Lorado Taft

American, 1860-1936

BiographyLorado Taft (1860-1936) was a Chicago-based sculptor and teacher known for his Beaux-Arts style. He was born in Illinois in 1860, and attended the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign where he recceived his B.A. and Masters in Art. He then studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts for several years, and in 1886 returned to Chicago to form his own sculpture studio. There, he was commissioned to create sculptures for the 1893 World's Columbian Expedition in Chicago, and secured a position lecturing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He was a pioneer in the study of sculpture and published a book entitled the History of American Sculpture in 1903. He also apprenticed women in his studio, which was very unusual for the period.
In 1906 Taft began teaching art at the University of Chicago and relocated his studio to the Midway Plaisance. He was also made a member of the National Academy of Design in 1909. His works remain on display throughout the city of Chicago, including the Fountain of Time located near the University of Chicago.

information taken from: https://arts.uchicago.edu/public-art/by-artist/lorado-tafteglehmann 11/22/2017

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