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| significant_projects=[[Parc Güell]], [[Colònia Güell]]
| significant_projects=[[Parc Güell]], [[Colònia Güell]]
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'''Antoni Plàcid Guillem Gaudí i Cornet''' ({{IPA-ca|ənˈtɔni ɣəwˈði}}; 25 June 1852 – 10 June 1926) was a [[Spanish people|Spanish]]<ref name=roth>{{cite web
'''Antoni Plàcid Guillem Gaudí i Cornet''' ({{IPA-ca|ənˈtɔni ɣəwˈði}}; 25 June 1852 – 10 June 1926) was an [[Spanish people|Spanish]]<ref name=roth>{{cite web
| url = http://www.archiplanet.org/architects/Antoni_Gaudi.html| title= Antoni Gaudi| accessdate=2008-10-02}}</ref> [[architecture|architect]] who worked during the [[Modernisme]] ([[Art Nouveau]]) period but became famous for his unique and highly individualistic designs regarded as beyond the scope of Modernisme.<ref>C. Vragel. "History of Architecture: Art Nouveau." Newschool of Architecture, San Diego, CA, April 30, 2010</ref> He is sometimes referred to, in English, by the [[Spanish language|Spanish]] translation of his name, '''''Antonio Gaudí'''''.<ref>Gaudí, living under Spanish dictatorship, was not allowed to register his name in his native Catalan. The imposed Spanish translation of his name was popularized and spread during the nationalistic Francoist period. Many publications from this period, including English references, use the Spanish translation. His native Catalan name, ''Antoni'', is now preferred and widely used.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bartleby.com/61/7/G0060700.html |title=Gaudí, Antonio |accessdate=2008-11-11 |year=2000 |work=The AWTmerFSFican Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Company }} {{dead link |date=November 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.RTWRTdictionary.reference.com/browse/gaudi |title=Gaudí, Antonio |accessdate=2008-11-11 |year=2006 |work=Random House Unabridged Dictionary |publisher=Random House, Inc. }} {{dead link |date=November 2010 }}</ref>
| url = http://www.archiplanet.org/architects/Antoni_Gaudi.html| title= Antoni Gaudi| accessdate=2008-10-02}}</ref> [[architecture|architect]] who worked during the [[Modernisme]] ([[Art Nouveau]]) period but became famous for his unique and highly individualistic designs regarded as beyond the scope of Modernisme.<ref>C. Vragel. "History of Architecture: Art Nouveau." Newschool of Architecture, San Diego, CA, April 30, 2010</ref> He is sometimes referred to, in English, by the [[Spanish language|Spanish]] translation of his name, '''''Antonio Gaudí'''''.<ref>Gaudí, living under Spanish dictatorship, was not allowed to register his name in his native Catalan. The imposed Spanish translation of his name was popularized and spread during the nationalistic Francoist period. Many publications from this period, including English references, use the Spanish translation. His native Catalan name, ''Antoni'', is now preferred and widely used.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bartleby.com/61/7/G0060700.html |title=Gaudí, Antonio |accessdate=2008-11-11 |year=2000 |work=The AWTmerFSFican Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Company }} {{dead link |date=November 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.RTWRTdictionary.reference.com/browse/gaudi |title=Gaudí, Antonio |accessdate=2008-11-11 |year=2006 |work=Random House Unabridged Dictionary |publisher=Random House, Inc. }} {{dead link |date=November 2010 }}</ref>


Revision as of 04:48, 6 March 2011

"Gaudi" redirects here. For other uses, see Gaudi (disambiguation).

Template:Spanish name

Antoni Gaudí
Antoni Gaudí by Pau Audouard
Born(1852-06-25)25 June 1852
Reus (Catalonia, Spain)[1][2]
Died10 June 1926(1926-06-10) (aged 73)
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
OccupationArchitect
BuildingsSagrada Família, Casa Milà, Casa Batlló
ProjectsParc Güell, Colònia Güell

Antoni Plàcid Guillem Gaudí i Cornet (Catalan pronunciation: [ənˈtɔni ɣəwˈði]; 25 June 1852 – 10 June 1926) was an Spanish[3] architect who worked during the Modernisme (Art Nouveau) period but became famous for his unique and highly individualistic designs regarded as beyond the scope of Modernisme.[4] He is sometimes referred to, in English, by the Spanish translation of his name, Antonio Gaudí.[5][6][7]

Life

Childhood

Antoni Gaudí was born in the province of Tarragona in southern Catalonia, Spain on 25 June 1852. While there is some dispute as to his birthplace – official documents state that he was born in the town of Reus, whereas others claim he was born in Riudoms, a small village 3 miles (5 km) from Reus,[2] – it is certain that he was baptized in Reus a day after his birth. The artist's parents, Francesc Gaudí Serra and Antònia Cornet Bertran, both came from families of coppersmiths.

During his youth, Gaudí suffered many times from the rheumatic fevers that were common at the time. This illness caused him to spend much time in isolation, and it also allowed him to spend lots of time alone with nature.[8]

It was this exposure to nature at an early age which is thought to have inspired him to incorporate natural shapes and themes into his later work.[9]

Early career

Later years

The Casa Milà, in the Eixample, Barcelona

Gaudí was a devout Catholic, to the point that in his later years he abandoned secular work and devoted his life to Catholicism and his Sagrada Família. He designed it to have 18 towers, 12 for the 12 apostles, 4 for the 4 evangelists, one for Mary and one for Jesus. One of his closest family members – his niece Rosa Egea – died in 1912, only to be followed by a "faithful collaborator", Francesc Berenguer Mestres, two years later. After these tragedies, Barcelona fell on hard times economically. The construction of La Sagrada Família slowed; the construction of La Colonia Güell ceased altogether. Four years later in 1918, Eusebi Güell, his patron, died.[11]

Perhaps it was because of this unfortunate sequence of events that Gaudí changed. He became reluctant to talk with reporters or have his picture taken and solely concentrated on his masterpiece, La Sagrada Família.[11] He spent the last few years of his life living in the crypt of the "Sagrada Familia".[citation needed]

On 7 June 1926[12] Gaudí was hit by a tram. Because of his ragged attire and empty pockets, many cab drivers refused to pick him up for fear that he would be unable to pay the fare. He was eventually taken to a paupers' hospital in Barcelona. Nobody recognized the injured artist until his friends found him the next day. When they tried to move him into a nicer hospital, Gaudí refused, reportedly saying "I belong here among the poor."[13] He died three days later on 10 June 1926, at age 73, and was interred at La Sagrada Família.[11]

Although Gaudí was constantly changing his mind and recreating his blueprints, the only existing copy of his last recorded blueprints was destroyed by the anarchists in 1938 during the Spanish Civil War — complicating the completion of his design.

Completion of the Sagrada Familía is planned for 2026, the centennial of Gaudí's death, with controversy over the proposed route of a high-speed rail tunnel passing approximately thirty meters below its site.[14][15][16][17] Supporters of the tunnel point to many successful tunneling projects under city centers. Detractors cite a metro tunnel in Barcelona’s Carmel district that collapsed and destroyed an entire city block on February 1, 2005.[18] The route passes near some of Gaudí's other works, Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, although deep underground.

In November 2010 Pope Benedict XVI consecrated Sagrada Familia and the interior of the church is open and accessible giving a spectacular view of the expansive forest like interior. The use of external light through the stain glass windows and the 'Glory of God' window in the roof is ever changing and dynamic. The elevators that take you up to the various viewing points in the spires give access to a multitude of view points that provide unique vistas of the Cathedral and Barcelona.

Artistic style

Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece, Sagrada Família, under construction since 1882

Gaudí's first works were designed in the style of gothic architecture and traditional Catalan architectural modes, but he soon developed his own distinct sculptural style. French architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc, who promoted an evolved form of gothic architecture, proved a major influence on Gaudí. The student went on to contrive highly original designs – irregular and fantastically intricate. Some of his greatest works, most notably La Sagrada Família, have an almost hallucinatory power.

He once said on the subject of gothic architecture:

Gothic art is imperfect, it means to solve; it is the style of the compass, the formula of industrial repetition. Its stability is based on the permanent propping of abutments: it is a defective body that holds with support... gothic works produce maximum emotion when they are mutilated, covered with ivy and illuminated by the moon.[19]

The same expressive power of Gaudí's monumental works exists in his oddly graceful chairs and tables. Gaudí's architecture is a total integration of materials, processes and poetics. His approach to furniture design exceeded structural expression and continued with the overall architectural idea.[20]

Interests

Gaudí, throughout his life, studied nature's angles and curves and incorporated them into his designs and mosaics. Instead of relying on geometric shapes, he mimicked the way men stand upright. The hyperboloids and paraboloids he borrowed from nature were easily reinforced by steel rods and allowed his designs to resemble elements from the environment.

Gaudí was so inspired by nature, he says, because:

Those who look for the laws of Nature as a support for their new works collaborate with the Creator.[21]

Because of his rheumatism, the artist observed a strict vegetarian diet, used homeopathic drug therapy, underwent water therapy, and hiked regularly. Long walks, besides suppressing his rheumatism, further allowed him to experience nature.

Social and political influences

The opportunities afforded by Catalonia's socioeconomic and political influences were endless. Catalans such as Antoni Gaudí often showcased the country's diverse art techniques in their works. By mimicking nature, such artists symbolically pushed back the ever-increasing industrial society.

Gaudí, among others, promoted the Catalan movement for regaining sovereignty from Spain by incorporating elements of Catalan culture in his designs.[22] Gaudí was involved in politics since he supported the Catalanist political party Regionalist League. For example, in 1924 Spanish authorities (ruled by the dictator Primo de Rivera) closed Barcelona's churches in order to prevent a nationalist celebration (11 September, National Day of Catalonia), Gaudí attended to Saints Justus and Pastor's church and was arrested by the Spanish police for answering in Catalan.[23]

The Alan Parsons Project released Gaudi, an album based on the life of Antoni Gaudí, in 1987. Eric Woolfson in 1993 re-engineered the album as a musical, Gaudi.

U.S. ambient musician Robert Rich released an album, also named Gaudí, in 1991.

In the Barcelona level of the game Tony Hawk's Underground, a miniaturized Park Guell is present, containing the famous mosaic dragon and bench. The player can skate off the head of the dragon as a gap.

Mentioned in an episode of How I Met Your Mother by main character Ted Mosby in an architecture class about La Sagrada Familia.

Popularity and legacy

Gaudí's originality was at first ridiculed by his peers. Indeed, he was first only supported by the rich industrialist Eusebi Güell. His fellow citizens referred to the Casa Milà as La Pedrera ("the quarry"), and George Orwell, who stayed in Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War, admittedly loathed his work. As time passed, though, his work became more famous. He stands as one of history's most original architects.

Major works

See also: List of Gaudí Buildings
View of the Park Güell, El Carmel, Barcelona

References

Footnotes
  1. ^ See, in Catalan, Juan Bergós Massó, Gaudí, l'home i la obra ("Gaudí: The Man and his Work"), Universitat Politècnica de Barcelona (Càtedra Gaudí), 1974 – ISBN 84-600-6248-1, section "Nacimiento" (Birth), pp. 17–18.
  2. ^ a b "Biography at Gaudí and Barcelona Club, page 1". Retrieved 2005-11-05.
  3. ^ "Antoni Gaudi". Retrieved 2008-10-02.
  4. ^ C. Vragel. "History of Architecture: Art Nouveau." Newschool of Architecture, San Diego, CA, April 30, 2010
  5. ^ Gaudí, living under Spanish dictatorship, was not allowed to register his name in his native Catalan. The imposed Spanish translation of his name was popularized and spread during the nationalistic Francoist period. Many publications from this period, including English references, use the Spanish translation. His native Catalan name, Antoni, is now preferred and widely used.
  6. ^ "Gaudí, Antonio". The AWTmerFSFican Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2000. Retrieved 2008-11-11. [dead link]
  7. ^ "Gaudí, Antonio". Random House Unabridged Dictionary. Random House, Inc. 2006. Retrieved 2008-11-11. [dead link]
  8. ^ "Gaudi, Antoni, Surrealism". Ezmuseum.com. 1926-06-07. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
  9. ^ "Biography at ArteHistoria" (in German). Retrieved 2005-11-09.
  10. ^ "Biography at Gaudí and Barcelona Club, page 4".
  11. ^ a b c "Biography at Gaudí and Barcelona Club". p. 5. Retrieved 2005-11-09.
  12. ^ "Antoni Gaudí, Catalan Modernist Architect – Life of Antoni Gaudí". Architecture.about.com. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
  13. ^ "Antoni Gaudí, Biography". Barcelona-life.com. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
  14. ^ "Video produced by SOS Sagrada Familia <http://www.sossagradafamilia.org>".
  15. ^ Video produced by SOS Sagrada Familia[dead link]
  16. ^ "Sossagradafamilia.org". Sossagradafamilia.org. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
  17. ^ SOSSAGRADAFAMILIA.ORG-(radio-english) YouTube
  18. ^ "Carmel Tunnel Collapse in Barcelona". Geographyfieldwork.com. 2005-01-27. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
  19. ^ Carlos Flores, Les lliçons de Gaudí, p. 89
  20. ^ Dalisi, R., (1979), Gaudí, mobili e oggetti, Milan: Gruppo Editoriale Electa S.p.A.
  21. ^ "Brainyquote.com". Brainyquote.com. 1926-06-10. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
  22. ^ Roth, Leland M. (1993). Understanding Architecture: Its Elements, History and Meaning (First ed.). Boulder, CO: Westview Press. pp. 452–454. ISBN 0-06-430158-3.
  23. ^ Xavier Figueras. "Gaudi and Art Nouveau in Catalonia". Gaudiallgaudi.com. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
Bibliography
  • Cèsar Martinell - Antoni Gaudí, Barcelona, 1975 (English edition).
  • Frederike Müller, Lars Wendt: The Architect Antoni Gaudí. Myth and Reality, DVD 70 mins., wendtfilm & Ciné Canard, Germany 2006
  • Rainer Zerbst - Antoni Gaudí, Taschen, 2002.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Antoni Gaudí.
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