Background
Laessle, Albert was born on March 28, 1877 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Henry Christian and Caroline Louise (Metzger) Laessle.
Laessle, Albert was born on March 28, 1877 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Henry Christian and Caroline Louise (Metzger) Laessle.
Laessle studied art at several institutions. Spring Garden Institute in 1894, Drexel Institute (now Drexel University) 1894-1895, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts where he studied under Thomas Anshutz and Charles Grafly.
He taught at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts for more than twenty years. He spent three years, from 1904 to 1907 in Paris working with Michel Beguine. In 1907, he returned to Philadelphia and worked in Grafly"s studio.
Laessle did not address the accusations which cost him the medal, but rather retaliated by producing another sculpture of a turtle out of wax which can not be cast, proving he did not cast the first work.
His famous sculptures can be found at the Carnegie Institute, the Peabody Institute, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. In Rittenhouse Square is the famous bronze sculpture "Billy", which is of a goat and is known to be a favorite of children who love to sit on lieutenant
The Philadelphia Zoo has a group of "Bronze Penguins". From 1919 until 1939, Laessle was an instructor at the Pennsylvania Academy.
He retired due to a heart condition.
Among the medals he designed and sculpted during his long career was the Gold Medal of Award for the Sesquicentennial International Exposition held in Philadelphia in 1926. He sculpted America-Abundance, the tenth issue of the Society of Medalists in 1934. In 1927 he was elected into the National Academy of Design as an Associate member and became a full Academician in 1932.
Laessle died in his home in Miami, Florida on September 4, 1954.
His papers are held at the Archives of American Artist
Fellow American Numismatic Society of New New York Member National Sculpture Society. Member International Institute Arts and Letters.
Member Lindau, Bodenses, Switzerland.
Married Mary Prudden Middleton, June 7, 1905 (died August 4, 1944). Married second, Albertine C. de Bempt, October 6, 1946. Children: Albert Middleton, Paul.