Sprite
"Sprite" was originally part of a large sculpture program for Wright’s Midway Gardens in Chicago. Built for Edward C. Waller Jr. and Oscar Friedman in 1914, the complex was designed as an entertainment center. Interior and exterior areas provided for dining, dancing, and concerts, but the complex declined into a common beer garden within two years of its opening. With the advent of Prohibition in 1920, it was converted for other uses; in 1929, it was demolished. Iannelli was noted for his poster designs as well as for his architectural and decorative sculpture. Strongly tectonic, the figure is composed of motifs commonly found in Wright's architectural ornament. The faceting of the face is closely tied to Cubism, a movement that had gained international influence by 1914.
Artwork Details
- Title: Sprite
- Artist: Frank Lloyd Wright (American, Richland Center, Wisconsin 1867–1959 Phoenix, Arizona)
- Artist: Alfonso Iannelli (American, Andretta, Italy 1888–1965 Chicago)
- Date: ca. 1914
- Geography: Made in Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Culture: American
- Medium: Painted cement
- Dimensions: 65 x 14 x 12 in. (165.1 x 35.6 x 30.5 cm)
- Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John T. Steele, 1979
- Object Number: 1979.304
- Rights and Reproduction: © 2025 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
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