Monday, 23 November 2015

The Sprites by Frank Lloyd Wright


The Sprites (fairy or elf), architectural sculptures, were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1914 and sculpted by Alfonso Iannelli to be placed in the Chicago’s MidwayGardens , an amusement park that was demolished in 1929. 

The same Sprites are dotted around the Arizona Biltmore hotel in Phoenix (Arizona – USA).









Albert Chase McArthur was the architect for the hotel and Frank Lloyd Wright only a consultant on the project for four months in 1928, relating to the masonry unit "Textile Block" construction.


One of the Cottages showing the "Textile Block" pattern.

Because of Wright’s fame, owners of the hotel have stressed his participation in the project and reinforced the association of the place with Wright. A good example of this is the late addition of the "Saguaro Forms and Cactus Flowers" Stained glass window.


"Saguaro Forms and Cactus Flowers" Stained glass window after Wright’s design

Wright designed this as a magazine cover for Liberty Magazine in 1926. The stained glass window was fabricated by Taliesin students and installed during the 1973 hotel renovations and restoration.




The swimming pool with building designed by the architect Albert Chase McArthur

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