Lorado Zadok Taft (April 29, 1860, in Elmwood, Illinois – October 30, 1936, in Chicago) was an American sculptor, writer and educator. His 1903 book, ''The History of American Sculpture,'' was the first survey of the subject and stood for decades as the standard reference. He has been credited with helping to advance the status of women as sculptors. Taft was the father of U.S. Representative Emily Taft Douglas, father-in-law to her husband,

U.S. Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...

Paul Douglas, and a distant relative of U.S. President

William Howard Taft William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857March 8, 1930) was the 27th president of the United States (1909–1913) and the tenth chief justice of the United States (1921–1930), the only person to have held both offices. Taft was elected pr ...

Early years and education

Taft was born in Elmwood, Illinois. His parents were Don Carlos Taft and Mary Lucy Foster. His father was a professor of geology at the Illinois Industrial University (later renamed the

University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I, Illinois, University of Illinois, or UIUC) is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the Unive ...

). He lived much of his childhood at 601 E. John Street,

Champaign, Illinois Champaign ( ) is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 88,302 at the 2020 census. It is the tenth-most populous municipality in Illinois and the fourth most populous city in Illinois outside the Chicago metrop ...

, near the center of the UIUC campus. The house, now known as the Taft House was built by his father in 1873. It was purchased by the university in 1949 and moved about one mile southeast. After being homeschooled by his parents, Taft earned his

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

(1879) and master's degree (1880) at Illinois Industrial University. After his master's degree, he left for Paris to study sculpture, attending the

École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts The Beaux-Arts de Paris is a French '' grande école'' whose primary mission is to provide high-level arts education and training. This is classical and historical School of Fine Arts in France. The art school, which is part of the Paris Scien ...

from 1880 to 1883, where he studied with Augustin Dumont, Jean-Marie Bonnassieux, and Gabriel Thomas. His record there was outstanding; he was cited as "top man" in his studio and twice exhibited at the

Salon Salon may refer to: Common meanings * Beauty salon, a venue for cosmetic treatments * French term for a drawing room, an architectural space in a home * Salon (gathering), a meeting for learning or enjoyment Arts and entertainment * Salon ...

Career

Sculptor and educator

Upon returning to the United States in 1886, Taft settled in Chicago. He taught at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago until 1929. In addition to work in clay and plaster, Taft taught his students marble carving, and had them work on group projects. He also lectured at the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chic ...

and the

University of Illinois The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I, Illinois, University of Illinois, or UIUC) is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the Unive ...

In 1892, while the art community of Chicago was preparing for the

World's Columbian Exposition The World's Columbian Exposition (also known as the Chicago World's Fair) was a world's fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. The centerpiece of the Fair, h ...

of 1893, chief 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 (it was not socially accepted for women to work as sculptors at that time) for the Horticultural Building. Burnham responded, "Hire anyone, even white rabbits, if they'll do the work." From that arose a group of talented women sculptors known as "the White Rabbits", which included Enid Yandell, Carol Brooks MacNeil, Bessie Potter Vonnoh, Janet Scudder, Julia Bracken, and

Ellen Rankin Copp Ellen Rankin Copp (August 4, 1853 – August 8, 1901), also called Ellen or Helen Houser Rankin, was an American sculptor. Her works were featured at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Early life Helen or Ellen Houser Rankin ...

. Later, another former student,

Frances Loring Frances Norma Loring LL.D. (October 14, 1887– February 5, 1968) was a Canadian sculptor. Career Loring studied in Europe before enrolling at the Art Institute of Chicago, where she studied with Lorado Taft. She was a member of both the Royal C ...

, noted that Taft used his students' talents to further his own career, a not-uncommon situation. In general, history has given Taft credit for helping to advance the status of women as sculptors. At a meeting in St. Paul, Minnesota to decide which artist submission to select for a monument of Col. William Colvill to go in the Minnesota State Capitol rotunda, the state art commission asked the opinion of Taft who was in the city at the time. While he did not recommend any of the models, he thought the model by Catherine Backus had points in its favor. Originally the commission favored the model by John K. Daniels but it was voted down. They then selected Backus' model to execute in a nine foot full-size bronze.

Lectures and writings

As Taft grew older, his eloquence and compelling writing led him, along with Frederick Ruckstull, to the forefront of sculpture's conservative ranks, where he often served as a spokesperson against the modern and abstract trends that developed during his lifetime. Taft's frequent lecture tours for the

Chautauqua Chautauqua ( ) was an adult education and social movement in the United States, highly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chautauqua assemblies expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid-1920s. The Chautauqua bro ...

gave him a broad, popular celebrity status. UIUC 20071006 img 2247

In some settings, Taft is better known for his writings than for his sculpture. In 1903, Taft published ''The History of American Sculpture'', the first survey of the subject. The revised 1925 version was to remain the standard reference on the subject until the art historian

E. Wayne Craven Ernest Wayne Craven, Jr. (December 7, 1930 – May 7, 2020) was an American art historian and educator. A scholar of nineteenth-century American art, particularly sculpture, Craven was Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Professor of Art History Em ...

published ''Sculpture in America'' in 1968. In 1921, Taft published ''Modern Tendencies in Sculpture'', a compilation of his lectures given at the Art Institute of Chicago. At the time, it offered a distinct perspective on the development of European sculpture; today, the book continues to be regarded as an excellent survey of American sculpture in the early years of the 20th century.

Associations

In 1898, Taft was a founding member of the Eagle's Nest Art Colony, which is currently a field and research campus for Northern Illinois University in Oregon, Illinois. Taft designed the Columbus Fountain at Union Station in Washington, D.C., in collaboration with Daniel Burnham. Taft was a member of the National Academy of Design, the National Institute of Arts and Letters, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters; he headed the National Sculpture Society in the 1920s, exhibiting at both their 1923 and 1929 shows, and he served on the Board of Art Advisors of Illinois. He served on the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts from 1925 to 1929, and was an honorary member of the

American Institute of Architects The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to ...

. His papers reside in collections at the Smithsonian Archives of American Art, the University of Illinois, and the Art Institute of Chicago. He maintained his connections with his alma mater throughout his life. (His association with the University is commemorated by a street named in his honor.) In 1929, he dedicated his sculpture ''Alma Mater'' on the University of Illinois campus. Taft envisioned his ''Alma Mater'' as a benign and magnificent woman, about high and dressed in classical draperies, rising from a throne and advancing a step forward with outstretched arms in a gesture of generous greeting to her children. Two figures behind her on either side represent the university's motto, Learning and Labor.

Final years

He received numerous awards, prizes, and honorary degrees. Taft was active until the end of his life. The week before he died, he attended the

Quincy, Illinois Quincy ( ), known as Illinois's "Gem City", is a city in and the county seat of Adams County, Illinois, United States, located on the Mississippi River. The 2020 census counted a population of 39,463 in the city itself, down from 40,633 in 2010. ...

, dedication ceremonies for his sculpture celebrating the Lincoln–Douglas debates. He died in his home studio in Chicago on October 30, 1936.

Sculptor's body of work

Taft may be best remembered for his various

fountain A fountain, from the Latin "fons" (genitive "fontis"), meaning source or spring, is a decorative reservoir used for discharging water. It is also a structure that jets water into the air for a decorative or dramatic effect. Fountains were or ...

s. The University of Illinois Archives has a series of photographs of most of Taft's important works, including many of their construction and preliminary models. Panorama of the Fountain of Time

Following more than a dozen years of work, Taft's '' Fountain of Time'' was unveiled at the west end of Chicago's Midway Plaisance in 1922. Based on poet Austin Dobson's lines—"Time goes, you say? Ah no, Alas, time stays, we go." The fountain shows a cloaked figure of time observing the stream of humanity flowing past. Louisiana State Capitol scuptured figures

Louisiana State Capitol scuptured figures

The last major commission that Taft completed was two groups for the front entrance to the Louisiana State Capitol Building, dedicated in 1932. He left unfinished a vast work to be called the ''Fountain of Creation'' which he planned to place at the opposite end of the Chicago Midway to the ''Fountain of Time''. Parts of this work were donated to the

and are now at the library and Foellinger Auditorium. The University named a dormitory and a street in Taft's honor. In 1965, his Chicago workplace at 6016 Ingleside Avenue (he moved there in 1906, when the building consisted merely of a brick barn) was designated a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...

as Lorado Taft Midway Studios.

Selected commissions

LaFayette Fountain Lafayette Fountain is an 1887 fountain by sculptor Lorado Taft, in the grounds of the Tippecanoe County Courthouse in Lafayette, Indiana. The fountain is composed of a number of tiered bowls with a marble statue of the Marquis de LaFayette on ...

Lafayette, Indiana Lafayette ( , ) is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, located northwest of Indianapolis and southeast of Chicago. West Lafayette, Indiana, West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home t ...

, 1887 * ''

Schuyler Colfax Schuyler Colfax Jr. (; March 23, 1823 – January 13, 1885) was an American journalist, businessman, and politician who served as the 17th vice president of the United States from 1869 to 1873, and prior to that as the 25th Speaker of the United ...

'', University Park, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1887 * Statue of George Washington,

University of Washington The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informally U-Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1861, Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast; it was established in Seat ...

, Seattle, Washington, 1905–1909. Created for the 1909

Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition The Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition, acronym AYP or AYPE, was a world's fair held in Seattle in 1909 publicizing the development of the Pacific Northwest. It was originally planned for 1907 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Klondike Go ...

. * '' Eternal Silence'', Graves Memorial,

Graceland Cemetery Graceland Cemetery is a large historic garden cemetery located in the north side community area of Uptown, in the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Established in 1860, its main entrance is at the intersection of Clark Street and Ir ...

, Chicago, Illinois, 1909 * ''Chief Paduke'' Statue, Jefferson Street, Paducah, Kentucky, 1909 * Black Hawk Statue Monument, aka ''Eternal Indian'', Oregon, Illinois, 1911 * ''

The Solitude of the Soul ''The Solitude of the Soul'' refers to one of three known works of sculpture of that name by the American sculptor Lorado Taft, a Midwesterner born in 1860, who was active in the Chicago area from 1885 until his death in 1936. The accompanyin ...

'',

Art Institute of Chicago The Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago's Grant Park, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the world. Recognized for its curatorial efforts and popularity among visitors, the museum hosts approximately 1.5 mil ...

, Chicago, Illinois, 1911–1914 *

Columbus Fountain ''Columbus Fountain'' also known as the Columbus Memorial is a public artwork by American sculptor Lorado Taft, located at Union Station in Washington, D.C., United States. A centerpiece of Columbus Circle, ''Columbus Fountain'' serves as a t ...

, in front of Union Station, Washington, D.C., 1912. * '' Fountain of the Great Lakes'',

, Chicago, Illinois, 1913 * ''Seated Woman With Children'' aka ''Music'', Chicago, Illinois, 1915 * '' Thatcher Memorial Fountain'',

Denver, Colorado Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the United ...

, 1918 * Two Boys with Dolphins Fountain, Oregon, Illinois, ca. 1920 * '' Fountain of Time'', Chicago, Illinois, 1922 * William A. Foote Memorial, Woodland Cemetery, Jackson, Michigan, 1923 * ''

Lincoln the Lawyer ''Lincoln the Lawyer'', also known as ''The Young Circuit Lawyer'', ''Young Lincoln'' or simply ''Abraham Lincoln'', is a Lorado Taft sculpture now located on the 1000 block of Race Street, Urbana, Illinois, across from Urbana High School in Car ...

'',

Urbana, Illinois Urbana ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Champaign County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census, Urbana had a population of 38,336. As of the 2010 United States Census, Urbana is the 38th-most populous municipality in Illinois. It ...

, 1927 * ''Annie Louise Keller Memorial, White Hall, Illinois, 1929 * '' Alma Mater'',

, 1929 * Frances Elizabeth Willard (plaque),

Indiana Statehouse The Indiana Statehouse is the state capitol building of the U.S. state of Indiana. It houses the Indiana General Assembly, the office of the Governor of Indiana, the Indiana Supreme Court, and other state officials. The Statehouse is located in ...

Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of U.S. state and territorial capitals, state capital and List of U.S. states' largest cities by population, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat, seat of ...

, 1929 * '' The Crusader'', Lawson Monument,

, Chicago, Illinois, 1931 * Two Groups: ''The Pioneers'' and ''The Patriots'', Louisiana State Capitol, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1932 * ''Ontario Sends Greetings to the Sea'', eleventh issue of the

Society of Medalists The Society of Medalists was established in 1930 in the United States to encourage the medallic work of superior sculptors, and to make their creations available to the public. The Society of Medalists was the longest running art medal collector's ...

, 1935 * Bas-relief of ''Lincoln – Douglas Debate, Quincy, October 13, 1858'',

, 1936 * Heald Square Monument ( Robert Morris – George Washington – Haym Salomon), Chicago, Illinois, 1936–1941. Completed by Leonard Crunelle,

Nellie Walker Nellie Verne Walker (December 8, 1874 – July 10, 1973), was an American sculptor best known for her statue of James Harlan formerly in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol, Washington D.C. Early years Nellie ...

and

Fred Torrey Fred Martin Torrey (January 29, 1884 – July 1967) American sculptor known for his monuments and architectural sculpture. His wife, Mabel Torrey (1886–1974) was also a recognized sculptor who worked with her husband on some commission ...

following Taft's 1936 death. * Trotter Fountain,

Bloomington, Illinois Bloomington is a city and the county seat of McLean County, Illinois, McLean County, Illinois, United States. It is adjacent to the town of Normal, Illinois, Normal, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomingto ...

, 1911

War memorials

* 4th Michigan Infantry Monument, Gettysburg Battlefield, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 1889 * General Ulysses S. Grant Monument, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 1889 * Student Veteran Memorial, Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan, 1895 * ''Defense of the Flag'', Withington Park,

Jackson, Michigan Jackson is the only city and county seat of Jackson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534, down from 36,316 at the 2000 census. Located along Interstate 94 and U.S. Route 127, it is approx ...

, 1904 * The Soldiers' Monument, Oregon, Illinois, 1916 File:Lafayette Fountain 29.jpg,

(1887), Tippecanoe County Courthouse, Lafayette, Indiana File:Schuyler Colfax by Lorado Zadoc Taft (1887) Control IAS 76008067.jpg, ''Schuyler Colfax'' (1887), University Park, Indianapolis, Indiana File:Monument to the 4th Michigan Infantry at Gettysburg.jpg, 4th Michigan Infantry Monument (1889), Gettysburg Battlefield, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania File:Defense_of_the_Flag.jpg, ''Defense of the Flag'' (1904),

File:Installing the George Washington statue for the A-Y-P - 1909.jpg, Statue of George Washington (1905–1909),

, Seattle File:Fountain Of The Great Lakes.jpg, '' Fountain of the Great Lakes'' (1907–1913),

File:Black_Hawk_by_Lorado_Taft.jpg, '' Black Hawk Statue'' (1908–1911),

Lowden State Park Lowden State Park is an Illinois state park on in Ogle County, Illinois, United States. The park was named after Governor Frank Orren Lowden. Governor Lowden had served Illinois during World War I. Lowden State Park is home to the Black Hawk St ...

, Oregon, Illinois File:Solitude of the Soul (Lorado Taft).jpg, ''

'' (1911–1914),

File:Columbus Fountain by Lorado Zadoc Taft (1912).jpg,

(1912), Union Station, Washington, D.C. File:Seated_Woman_With_Children_by_Lorado_Taft.jpg, ''Seated Woman With Children'', (1915), Chicago Illinois File:Oregon Il The Soldiers' Monument5.jpg, The Soldiers' Monument (1916), Oregon, Illinois File:MonumentTaft.jpg, '' Thatcher Memorial Fountain'' (1918), Denver, Colorado File:Two_Boys_with_Dolphins_Fountain.jpg, ''Two Boys with Dolphins'' (ca. 1920), Oregon, Illinois File:LTFountainOfTime2.jpg, Taft's self-portrait on the '' Fountain of Time'' (1922), Chicago, Illinois File:Foote_Memorial.jpg, Foote Memorial (1923),

File:Alma-front.jpg, '' Alma Mater'' (1929),

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U of I, Illinois, University of Illinois, or UIUC) is a public land-grant research university in Illinois in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana. It is the flagship institution of the Uni ...

File:Chicago, Illinois The Crusader1.jpg, '' The Crusader'' (1931),

, Chicago, Illinois File:Quincy Lincoln Douglas Taft.JPG, ''Lincoln - Douglas Debate, Quincy, October 13, 1858.'' (1936),

File:Heald Monument (2).JPG, Heald Square Monument (1936–1941), Chicago, Illinois. Completed by Leonard Crunelle,

and

Students and assistants

During his long career, Taft acted as a mentor and teacher for many sculptors, including: * Enrique Alférez *

Jean Pond Miner Coburn Jean Pond Miner Coburn (1866–1967) was born in Menasha, Wisconsin. She studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, and is most notable for her work ''Forward''. Early life Jean Pond Miner was born in Menasha, Wisconsin on the 8th July 1866. He ...

Alice Cooper Alice Cooper (born Vincent Damon Furnier, February 4, 1948) is an American rock singer whose career spans over five decades. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusions, including pyrotechnics, guilloti ...

* Leonard Crunelle * Ulric Ellerhusen * Paul Fjelde *

Sherry Edmundson Fry Sherry Edmundson Fry (September 29, 1879 – June 9, 1966) was an American sculptor, who also played a prominent role in U.S. Army camouflage during World War I. Early years Fry was born in Creston, Iowa. After completing high school, he enr ...

Waylande Gregory Waylande Desantis Gregory (1905 Baxter Springs, Kansas – 1971, New Jersey) was one of the most innovative and prolific American art-deco ceramics sculptors of the early 20th century. His groundbreaking techniques enabled him to create monument ...

* Carl Augustus Heber *

Frederick Hibbard Frederick Cleveland Hibbard (June 15, 1881 – December 12, 1950) was an American sculptor based in Chicago. Hibbard is best remembered for his Civil War memorials, produced to commemorate both the Union and Confederate causes. Born and rais ...

* Mary Lawrence * Evelyn Beatrice Longman *

* Carol Brooks MacNeil * Helen Farnsworth Mears *

Charles Mulligan Charles J. Mulligan (September 28, 1866 – March 25, 1916) was an American sculptor. Born in Riverdale, County Tyrone, Ireland, Mulligan immigrated to America at the age of 17 and found work as a stone cutter in Pullman, Illinois, near C ...

William Clark Noble William Clark Noble (February 10, 1858 – May 10, 1938) was an American sculptor best known for his monuments. Early life Noble was born on February 10, 1858 in Gardiner, Maine. He was a son of Clark Noble, a ship’s captain, and Emma Fre ...

C. Adrian Pillars Charles Adrian Pillars (1870–1937) was an American sculptor. He chiefly worked in Florida from his studio in St. Augustine. Pillars was born in Rantoul, Illinois. He studied with Daniel Chester French, Edward Potter and Lorado Taft at the A ...

Trygve Rovelstad Trygve A. Rovelstad (September 27, 1903 – June 8, 1990) was an American sculptor and medal designer. Trygve A. Rovelstad was born in Elgin, Illinois, to Norwegian immigrant parents. Rovelstad first studied at Fabyan Villa art studio o ...

* Belle Kinney Scholz * Janet Scudder *

Clara Sorensen Clara Barth Leonard Sorenson Dieman (1877–1959) was an American sculptor, Painting, painter and teacher from Indianapolis, Indiana. Sorensen studied at the Herron School of Art, John Herron Art Institute in Indianapolis and was a student of se ...

John Storrs John Storrs may refer to: * John Storrs (sculptor) * John Storrs (architect) * John Storrs (priest) See also * J. Storrs Hall, American nanotechnologist * John Storr Rear Admiral John Storr (18 August 1709 – 10 January 1783), was an officer of ...

* Charles Umlauf * Bessie Potter Vonnoh *

Julia Bracken Wendt Julia Bracken Wendt, (1870–1942) a notable American sculptor, was born on June 10, 1871 in Apple River, Illinois, the twelfth of thirteen children in an Irish Catholic family.Rubenstein, Charlotte Streifer, ‘’American Women Sculptors: A Hi ...

Florence Wyle Florence Wyle (November 14, 1881 – January 14, 1968) was an American-Canadian sculptor, designer and poet; a pioneer of the Canadian art scene. She practiced chiefly in Toronto, living and working with her partner Frances Loring, with whom s ...

* Enid Yandell

Notes

Additional sources

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

External links

* *
Lorado Taft Papers, 1857-1953 University of Illinois Archives
* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20080518050108/http://www.ellasharp.org/our-outdoor-sculpture.html Descriptions and photographs of two worksDefense of the Flag memorial and William A Foote memorial
American Art American City: Lorado Taft
Artbeat Chicago segment on

WTTW WTTW (channel 11) is a PBS member television station in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Owned by not-for-profit broadcaster Window to the World Communications, Inc., it is sister to commercial classical music radio station WFMT (98.7 FM). ...

's '' Chicago Tonight'', May 15, 2008 * {{DEFAULTSORT:Taft, Lorado 19th-century American sculptors 19th-century male artists American male sculptors 20th-century American sculptors 20th-century male artists 1860 births 1936 deaths Taft family Burials at Graceland Cemetery (Chicago) People from Elmwood, Illinois Illinois Industrial University alumni American alumni of the École des Beaux-Arts National Sculpture Society members People from Oregon, Illinois Members of the American Academy of Arts and Letters