This is a plaster sculpture of an infant with a very slight tilt to the head and shoulders. The eyes gaze slightly away. Part of the shoulders, neck, and upper chest are shown in this sculpture which appear to wear away until the resting part of the base is smaller in diameter than the visible area of shoulders.
(1872-1944)
Crunelle was born in Lens, France. He immigrated with his family to Indiana in 1882, but they soon moved to the Decatur, Illinois area. Here, Crunelle attended school and helped his father in the coal mines. In school, he impressed his teachers with his drawing ability. When Lorado Taft came to Decatur to deliver a lecture, the local teachers showed off some of Crunelle’s art work. Taft was impressed and invited Crunelle to come to work with him in Chicago.
Crunelle moved to Chicago and worked with Taft on sculptures for the Columbian Exposition. He enrolled in night-time classes at the Art Institute to study sculpture. Crunelle is best known for his sculptures of children.