"Alfonso Iannelli's current reputation illustrates the paradox of how an artist can at once be illustrious and unknown.  In the Chicago area, he created the sculpture for Frank Lloyd Wright's Midway Gardens, worked on many apartments and homes with architect Barry Byrne, contributed much of the interior of the Pickwick Theatre, added bronze plaques to the Adler Planetarium, designed several structures for the Century of Progress Exposition, and ultimately carved the Rock of Gibraltar into the Prudential Building.  

During Iannelli's life (1888 - 1965) those achievements and more were examined in five exhibitions at the Art Institute of Chicago, and just after his death, a long essay put them in perspective in the quarterly Prairie School review."

Alan Artner - Chicago Tribune Art Critic 9/27/01

ORPHEUM THEATRE POSTERS

These hand painted posters were hung outside the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles to promote the vaudeville shows produced within.  Nearly 100 original designs were created from 1911 to 1915.  As a body of work, they are highlights of early 20th century modernism.  Although encouraged to have these designs reproduced, Iannelli resisted as he did not want to be considered a "poster man".  Ironically, this most likely led to a lack of wider appreciation of his considerable contributions to modern design.  Despite his creative genius and long career, he has remained largely unknown to the general public.  In 1969, six designs were finally reproduced in printed poster form, and in limited edition quantity, as a means to raise funds for the Chicago School of Architecture Foundation. 

ZOOM

SASCHA PIATOV
ASSISTED BY MIGNON McGIBENEY

Tempera paint on poster board
January 1915
38 x 28 inches

An Orpheum poster promoting a dance act.  This poster is very geometric in its design while still expressing the motion inherent in dance performances.  It also exhibits excellent bold lettering.

Provenance:
Swann Auction Gallery

CHARLES PRELLE'S ANIMAL CIRCUS
THE ROBBERY OF THE OVERLAND MAIL

SOLD
Tempera paint on poster board
April 1915
40 x 30 inches

This poster in metallic gold and rich red promotes a circus act.  How five dogs and an elephant managed to re-enact a train robbery remains a mystery.

Exhibited at Architech Gallery- Alfonso Iannelli: Modern by Design - September 7 through December 29, 2012.

Provenance:
Chicago School of Architecture Foundation
Kelmscott Gallery
Private Collection
Poster Auctions International

THE TAKINESS
A MUSICAL NOVELTY
 
SOLD
Tempera paint on poster board
September 1912
40 x 30 inches

An early Orpheum poster promoting a musical novelty. This poster is less geometric than later ones and softer in tone.

The square openings in each poster allowed the theatre owners to change the date for each performance.

Exhibited at ArchiTech Gallery

MME. DONALD-AYER
FORMERLY PRIMA DONNA OF THE BOSTON OPERA

Tempura paint on poster board
April 1915
40 x 30 inches

Provenance:
Collection of Alan I. and Dianne Kay
The Estate of Alan I. and Dianne Kay

W. HORELIK ENSEMBLES
IN "THE GIPSY CAMP"

Tempura paint of poster board
March 1915
40 x 30 inches

Provenance:
Collection of Alan I. and Dianne Kay
The Estate of Alan I. and Dianne Kay

BERTHA KALICH & CO.
IN THE EPILOGUE TO ECHEGARAY'S "MARIANA"

Tempura paint on poster board
September 1915
40 x 30 inches

Provenance:
Collection of Alan I. and Dianne Kay
The Estate of Alan I. and Dianne Kay

ADLER PLANETARIUM
CHICAGO, IL

Color study of lobby interior
Tempera paint on tracing paper
Undated - Circa 1929
20 3/8 x 12 3/4 inches

Provenance:
The estate of Alfonso Iannelli 

ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE CHURCH
CHICAGO, IL

Design for stained glass window
Pencil on tracing paper
Church Architect: Barry Byrne
Window design drawn by Alfonso Iannelli
Undated - Circa 1922
Approx. 24 x 10 1/2 inches

St. Thomas the Apostle was the first Catholic church designed by noted architect Barry Byrne.  Byrne, as he did with many of his buildings, collaborated with other designers and sculptors in the creation of the building's ornament.  Alfonso Iannelli designed much of the stained glass and sculptures for the building, however Byrne and Iannelli were removed from the project prior to its completion, and therefore many of his designs (including this window) were never installed.
  
Byrne and Iannelli continued to work together on other commissions for the Catholic Church, some of which are recognized as modern masterpieces.

Exhibited at the Chicago Cultural Center - "Modernism's Messengers: The Art of Alfonso and Margaret Iannelli" - May 18 through August 27, 2013.

Provenance:
The estate of Alfonso Iannelli  

MAYBELLE APARTMENTS
DES PLAINES, IL

Preliminary design perspective
View from Miner Street
Pencil and colored pencil on tracing paper
Designer: Iannelli Studios
Architect: Barry Byrne
Dated April 9, 1946
Approx. 16 1/2 x 27 inches

Exhibited at ArchiTech Gallery - Alfonso Iannelli Driven to Design - September 14 through December 29, 2001

Provenance:
The estate of Alfonso Iannelli

ST. JOSEPH PYLON
ST. JOSEPH COLLEGE

Design rendering of St. Joseph Pylon
Pencil and colored pencil on tracing paper
7 Sheets
Dated November 1, 1954

Architect: Naess & Murphy a precursor to C.F. Murphy and later Murphy/Jahn Architects
Approx. 23 1/2 x 34 1/2 inches (1 Sheet)
Approx. 15 x 18 inches (3 Sheets)
Various sizes (3 Sheets)
Blue Print: 26 x 40 inches

1 graphite, colored pencil and/or pastel. Condition: 1 vertical crease near the center of the drawing, a piece of old tape (can be removed with care) center right, light wrinkling as seen around the corners, otherwise in excellent.

3 graphite on tracing paper - Front Elev., Side Elev. and Plan  

3 drawings on tracing paper in graphite, colored pencil and/or pastel, taped together.  23 1/2 x 34 1/2 inches, 17 x 25 inches, 13 1/2 x 16 inches.  

Blue print of residence halls at St. Joseph's College. 

Provenance:
The estate of Alfonso Iannelli
Kelmscott Gallery

WISCONSIN MEMORIAL GARDENS
MADISON, WI

Rendering of an outdoor fountain
Pencil on tracing paper
2 Sheets
Dated September 20 & 22, 1964
Approx. 20 1/2 x 36 inches

Design No. 1 for "Wisconsin Memorial Gardens", Madison, Wis. - Iannelli Studios Designers/Sculptors, Park Ridge Illinois. The center post has an eagle, the foreground post is a soldier, written along the front: "HONOR • COURAGE • TRIBUTE • MEMORY".  Conditions: heavy soiling lower left corner, creases at the left and right edges, overall very light soiling. 

Design No. 2 for "Wisconsin Memorial Gardens", Madison, Wis. - Iannelli Studios Designers, Park Ridge.  The center has an eagle and soldier. Conditions: creases at the left and right edges, overall very light soiling.  

Provenance:
The estate of Alfonso Iannelli
Kelmscott Gallery