Spanish Art

Nouveau

Antonio Gaudí 1852-1926– Architect– Eccentric genius

Geometric design– Moorish Influence

Organic design– experimental forms– “melting” shapes– flowing forms

“El Capricho” 1883

Built for Máximo Díaz de Quijano, who asked Gaudí to build a recreational villa in Comillas, just outside of Santander (in northern Spain). From the minarete one can see the ocean.

Casa Vicens 1883-1888

The house was bult for ceramics industrialist Manuel Vicens i Montaner at No. 22 Carrerde les Carolines in Barcelona. Forming part of the architect's early period, the building's structure is still dominated by straight lines.

Casa Vicens

Interior decoration “Mudejar,” a style that combines elements of Christian art with Arab ornamentation. The interior also reflects decorative styles popular in Granada during the 14th and 15th centuries, such as the stylized stalactitic ceiling in the fumoir. (smoking room). Many of these elements are seen in Spain’s Alhambra.

FincaGüell1883

The Finca Güell, or country estate of Eusebi Güell, features this entrance gate with its stunning wrought-iron dragon known as the Drac de Pedralbes(the Dragon of Pedralbes).

Gaudí will often incorporate organic wrought iron into this architecture.

Palau Güell 1886

This is the residence that the wealthy EusebiGüell commissioned Gaudí to design in 1886. Note the interesting wrought iron sculpture.

Palau Güell Rooftop Sculpture Garden

Note the use of broken tile mosaics on these fanciful forms. Here you can see why some have said that architecture by Gaudí has “edible” forms.

Parque Güell1900-1914

Gaudí planned and directed the construction of this park for friend Eusebi Güell as a residential garden city based on English models. It was intended for 60 single-family homes but the project was unsuccessful. Never complete, it became city property in 1923 and remains one of Gaudí's most colorful and playful works. Note the frequent use of the Christian cross form in his designs.

Parque Güell

Parque Güell

This entrance has forms that “grow” progressively larger.

Parque Güell

Parque Güell

This is a support structure for a raised garden area above it.

Parque Güell

www.greatbuildings.com

This seating area is decorated with all sorts of tiles and even old dishes.

It is supported by columns adapted from Greek and Roman temples.

Parque Güell

This entrance has a mosaic fountain in the form of a gecko.

Barcelona 1905-07 Casa BatllóPrivate Residence

Casa Batlló

Casa BattlóFor the mosaic that covers the upper section of the exterior wall, the architect applied pieces of recycled glass and custom-made ceramic disks.

Casa Batlló

Interior Photograph

Interior Photograph

Casa BatllóChair 1906

Reproductions - made of varnished solid oak wood using the same construction and carving techniques as used on the originals. Each a piece of art, each an original.

The Battlo chair is $4,800.00

Casa Battló

Stair

Hallway

Roof Garden

Roof Garden Mosaics

Casa Milà1906 - 1910

Apartment building with 2 interior atriumsOwner Pere Milà had seen the Batlló house and asked Gaudí to construct a large building of rental flats on his new land. This curving sculptured limestone form is the result. It is also called “La Pedrera” for the stonework.

Casa Milà

Casa MilàEntry Lobby & Atrium

Casa Milà

Casa Milà

Casa Milà

Casa MilàAttic

Casa MilàRoof

Garden

Casa Milà

Rooftop Sculpture Garden

Casa Milà

Gaudi Furniture Bd Ediciones de Diseno is the authorized manufacturer of the Gaudi furniture. Their reproductions are made of solid oak with the same construction and carving techniques as the originals. Organic, Plant-like forms

Calvet Bench $29,480.00

www.nova68.com

Calvet Armchair $14,280.00

Paramount Hotel, New York City

La SagradaFamilia Church

In 1883 Gaudí was commissioned to work on this church and he continued the task for 43 years until his death in 1926. Since then different architects have continued the work. It has always been an expiatory church, which means that it has been built from donations.

Gaudí said: "The expiatory church of La Sagrada Família is made by the people and is mirrored in them. It is a work that is in the hands of God and the will of the people."

After 125 years the building is still going on and could be finished some time in the 21st century.

Studio & Models

Model that Gaudi used to predict the forces exerted on the parabolic arches

Sagrada FamiliaBarcelona 1883-1926

SagradaFamilia

www2.rudi.net/cs/barcelona/ 058.jpg

www.storrer.com/GaudParc1.jpg&imgrefurl

Church Exterior

Sagrada Familia

"Nothing is art if it does not come from nature, as from nature come the most beautiful and extraordinary shapes.

Furthermore, nature is the masterpiece of the Creator" Gaudí

Church Interior

www.gaudi.tm/

Model of Interior

Church Interior

Sagrada Familia

Note Scale compared to the surrounding city.

Finis