Alfonso Iannelli
Alfonso Iannelli | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 17 February 1888 |
| Died | 23 March 1965 |
| Known for | Sculpting and industrial design |
| Movement | Streamline Moderne, Prairie School |
Alfonso Iannelli (February 17, 1888 - March 23, 1965) was an Italian-American sculptor, artist, and industrial designer.
Based in Chicago for most of his life, Iannelli was born in Andretta, Italy on February 17, 1888. He came to America in 1898. He studied to be a sculptor under Gutzon Borglum, later famous for Mount Rushmore.
From 1910 to 1915, he designed posters for the vaudeville acts appearing at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. Frank Lloyd Wright's son John saw his work, and the two became friends. John introduced Iannelli's work to his father, Frank Lloyd Wright, who invited Iannelli to work with him on his Midway Gardens project in 1914. Iannelli created several of the Midway's Sprite sculptures for Wright. But Wright took all credit for them, and the two would never collaborate again.
He also collaborated with Chicago architect Enrst Grunfeld on several Art Déco-style plaques in 1929 to 1930 for the Adler Planetarium. These contributions include the zodiac signs of astrology and depictions of the planets in their mythological forms.
Afterward, Iannelli collaborated with noted Chicago area Prairie School design architects Purcell and Elmslie, notably on the Woodbury County Courthouse,[1] and with architect Barry Byrne for several church projects in the American Midwest, and one in Ireland. Iannelli also worked on numerous exhibitions at the 1933 Century of Progress (Chicago World's Fair), including the Radio Flyer and Havoline Thermometer buildings.
He went on to open Iannelli Studios in Park Ridge, Illinois, in collaboration with his wife Margaret, a talented illustrator and artist in her own right. Iannelli Studios grew to become one of Chicago's most famous art studios at the time. They included more collaborators and expanded into commercial design, advertising, product design, and architectural interiors.
Among Iannelli's most famous industrial designs are the Streamline Moderne-inspired C-20 "Coffeemaster" vacuum coffeemaker and T-9 electric toaster for Sunbeam Products, which the company introduced as its flagship modern appliances in honor of the 1939 New York World's Fair. Iannelli also designed many significant interiors for churches and movie theaters, two of which remain in operation today: the Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge and the Catlow Theater in Barrington, Illinois. He also designed the large-scale Rock of Gibraltar relief on the facade of the Prudential Building (now called One Prudential Plaza) in Chicago.
He died in Chicago on 23 March 1965.[2]
Images
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Church of Saint Francis Xavier, Kansas City, Missouri, one of several churches designed by architect Barry Byrne incorporating architectural sculpture by Iannelli -
Replicas of the Midway Gardens Sprites, located at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Phoenix, Arizona -
Figure of Mother Mary above the entrance of the Immaculata High School, Chicago (removed circa 1981)
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References
- ^ "William Gray Purcell papers, N3, Northwest Architectural Archives, University of Minnesota Libraries, Minneapolis, MN".
- ^ Hughes, Edan. "Artists in California, 1786-1940". AskArt. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
His last 50 years were spent in Chicago; he died there on March 23, 1965.
External links
- Alfonso Iannelli - Architect, Artist and Designer
- Iannelli (and Wright) out of the Storeroom
- Catlow Theater
- Pickwick Theatre
- Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
- Purcell and Elmslie
- Barry Byrne
- Alfonso Iannelli collection, N235, Northwest Architectural Archives, University of Minnesota Libraries, Minneapolis, MN
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