Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Albert Laessle died in 1954; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 2024.
In context
La Source — Albert Laessle
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 77 at death.
Painted when the artist was 32. The artist lived to 77. 2 of the 23 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.
Shaded: the lifetime of Albert Laessle (1877–1954) ▲ this work, 1909 every dated painting, decade by decade
First works: up to 1912 Main working years: 1912–1920 Late works: from 1920
Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: artsdot.com/en/art/similar/albert-laessle-la-source-AQTUKH-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
White #fbf7f0
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 28 works by this artist, of which 9 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 9 of them, with 9.1% of that attention. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1877, Albert Laessle emerged as a distinctive voice within the American art landscape of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His journey, shaped by familial encouragement alongside parental reservations about an artistic career, led him through rigorous training at institutions like the Spring Garden Institute, Drexel University under Thomas Eakins, and the prestigious Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts where he studied with masters such as Thomas Anshutz and Charles Grafly. A formative period spent in Paris from 1904 to 1907, working alongside Michel Beguine, honed his skills and broadened his artistic perspective, imbuing his later work with a refined sensibility.
Laessle is primarily remembered as an “animalier,” a sculptor specializing in animal subjects. However, to categorize him solely within this genre would be to diminish the breadth of his talent. While celebrated for his remarkably lifelike depictions of creatures—penguins, goats like his beloved "Billy" gracing Rittenhouse Square, and countless others—Laessle’s skill extended beyond mere representation. He possessed an uncanny ability to capture not just the physical form but also the essence, the spirit, of his subjects. This was evident in the controversy surrounding his early plaster sculpture, “Turtle and Crab.” Accusations of casting rather than modeling stemmed from the astonishing realism of the turtle, a testament to Laessle’s meticulous observation and technical prowess. His subsequent creation of a wax version, impossible to cast, definitively silenced his critics and solidified his reputation as a master craftsman.
Laessle's artistic achievements were widely recognized throughout his career. He garnered medals at international expositions in Buenos Aires and San Francisco, demonstrating the global appeal of his work. His talent was further acknowledged through prestigious awards like the Widener Gold Medal in 1918 and the J. Sanford Saltus Award in 1951. Beyond individual accolades, Laessle’s career involved significant collaborative efforts. Notably, he completed Charles Grafly's unfinished masterpiece, the General Galusha Pennypacker Memorial, a monumental project showcasing his ability to seamlessly integrate into and expand upon another artist’s vision. This collaboration highlights not only his technical skill but also his respect for artistic legacy.
Albert Laessle passed away in 1954, leaving behind a body of work that continues to resonate with audiences today. His sculptures reside in esteemed institutions like the Carnegie Institute and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, testament to their enduring artistic merit. Perhaps most poignantly, his bronze "Billy" remains a beloved fixture in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square, a playful symbol of childhood joy and a lasting tribute to Laessle’s ability to capture the simple pleasures of life. His influence extends beyond the art world; he taught generations of aspiring sculptors at the Pennsylvania Academy, ensuring that his dedication to craftsmanship and artistic integrity would continue to inspire future artists. Laessle's work stands as a gentle reminder of the beauty found in the natural world and the power of art to evoke emotion and connection.
artsdot.com/en/art/download/albert-laessle-la-source-AQTUKH-en/
Look closely
La Source — Albert Laessle
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
The luminance recorded for "La Source" by Albert Laessle is luminous.
The light-dark contrast of "La Source" is recorded as statement. Contrast describes how strongly light and dark areas differ.
A digital image of "La Source" by Albert Laessle can be purchased on its Digital Image page: a high-resolution digital image download.