Fisher Boy Fountain - Chicago, IL
Posted by: 
Metro2
N 41° 52.635 W 087° 37.153
16T E 448619 N 4636332
This is one of a series of four fountains surrounding the much larger and much more famous Buckingham Fountain in Chicago's Grant Park.
Waymark Code: WMC5K9
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 07/28/2011
Views: 6
There are four 20-foot diameter fountains surrounding Buckinham Fountain in Chicago's Grant Park. They were originally cast in 1905 and set in a different park. After spending some time in storage, the sculptures were situated here in 1964.
The set of four sculpture/fountains are listed together in the Smithsonian Inventory as "Fountain Figures: Crane Girl, Fisher Boy, Turtle Boy, Dove Girl" See (
visit link)
This particular sculpture/fountain depicts a boy posed in a classical fashion wearing only a loincloth. A large fish flops on the ground between his legs.
From this website (
visit link) we learn this about the artist:
" The story of Leonard Crunelle who was born in a coal miner family in Northern France and grew up to become a reputed sculpture, with works displayed in many art exhibitions around the world .. His family emigrated to Brazil, Indiana in 1882, when he was ten yeard old .. Soon they moved to Decatur, Illinois. Leonard helped his father in coal mining since the age of ten.. He went school in Decature, where his teachers noticed his drawing skills, and that was his opening to the world of art..
Shortly before the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Lorado Taft delivered a lecture in Decature. After his address, some teaches of the town showed him the drawings made by Leonard ... Lorado Taft was impressed and took him under his tutelage. Soon Leonard started helping Lorado in the preparation of Columbian Exposition/World's Fair at Jackson Park .. After the Fair, Leonard took whatever daytime jobs he could get and attended the Art Institute night classes.
Soon he flourished as a artist. His speciality was making children's sculptures .. many times he used his own four children as models. His children helped him in making statues, the same way he helped his father in coal mines ..
Some of Leonardo Crunelle's works in Chicago are:
- Dove Girl, Turtle Boy, Crane Girl, Fisher Boy
- Heald Square Monument
- Victory Monument"