Leonard Crunelle (8 July 1872 in Lens, Pas-de-Calais [1] – 10 September 1944 in Chicago [2]) was a French-born American sculptor especially known for his sculptures of children. [3] [4] Crunelle immigrated with his family to the United States and worked as a coal miner in Decatur, Illinois. Lorado Taft discovered him as a youth and brought him to Chicago where he was an apprentice to the sculptors decorating the 1893 World's Fair Horticultural Exhibit. [4] He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago with Taft. [5]
Leonard Crunelle, famous scultor and former Decatur resident, who died in Chicago Sunday....