Lorado Taft

Lorado Zadoc Taft (April 29, 1860?October 30, 1936) was an American sculptor, writer and educator, was born in Elmwood, Illinois in 1860. After being homeschooled by his parents, Taft earned his bachelor?s degree (1879) and master?s degree (1880) from the University of Illinois where his father was a professor of Geology. The same year he left for Paris to study sculpture. In Paris he attended the Ecole des Beaux-Arts where he studied with Augustin Dumant, Jean Marie Bienaimé (Bonnassieux) and Jules Thomas. Upon returning to the United States in 1886 he settled in Chicago (although he continued to have a connection to the University of Illinois in Urbana for most of the rest of his life) and begun teaching at the Art Institute of Chicago, a post he was to remain at until 1929.

Related Topics:
April 29 - 1860 - October 30 - 1936 - Elmwood, Illinois - University of Illinois - Geology - Paris - Ecole des Beaux-Arts - Augustin Dumant - Jean Marie Bienaimé - Jules Thomas - Art Institute of Chicago

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In 1892, while the art community of Chicago was all in a twitter about preparing for the Colombian International Exposition of 1893 head architect Daniel Burnham expressed concern to Taft that the sculptural adornments to the buildings might not be finished on time. Taft asked if he could employ some of his female students as assistants (women as sculptors were not an accepted reality at that time) for the Horticultural Building, Burnham responded with the classic reply, ?Hire anyone, even white rabbits if they?ll do the work." From that arose a group of talented women sculptors who were to retain the name, "the White Rabbits." These included Enid Yandell, Carol Brooks MacNeil, Bessie Potter Vonnoh, Janet Scudder, and Julia Bracken. Later another former student, Francis Loring was to note that Taft was to use his students? talents to further his own career, a not uncommon observation by students regarding their teachers. In general, history has given Taft credit for helping advancing the status of women as sculptors.

Related Topics:
Enid Yandell - Carol Brooks MacNeil - Bessie Potter Vonnoh - Janet Scudder - Julia Bracken - Francis Loring

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In 1903 Taft published The History of American Sculpture, the first survey of the subject and a work that Taft is better known for (except perhaps in Chicago) than his many sculptures. His revised version, published in 1925, was to remain the standard reference on the subject until Wayne Craven came out with "Sculpture in America in 1968.

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As he grew older his eloquent speaking skills and compelling writing led Taft, along with Frederick Ruckstall to the forefront of sculpture?s conservative ranks, where he often served as a spokesperson against the modern and abstract tendencies that developed in sculpture during his lifetime.

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Lorado Taft was a member of the National Sculpture Society and exhibited at both their 1923 and 1929 shows. Today Taft is best remembered for his various fountains.

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