Pixtal/age Fotostock
Streetlamp, Plaza Real, Barcelona—Gaudí’s first commissioned creation
The cathedral in the photograph is the unfinished final masterpiece of Spain’s most notable architect, Antoni Gaudí. Gaudí’s architecture—whether you completely adore it or absolutely despise it—is a major attraction in the city of Barcelona. Buildings with some of the most distinctive architectural styles in the world can be seen all over the city, and their uniqueness cannot be debated.
Antoni Plàcid Guillem Gaudí i Cornet was born in 1852 in a small village in Catalonia. After completing a degree in architecture at the Provincial School of Architecture in Barcelona in 1878, Gaudí’s first commission was to create lampposts for the Plaza Real in Barcelona. Between 1883 and 1914 Gaudí created furniture, objets d’art, residences, urban parks, and commercial buildings that reflected his original style. In 1883 at the age of thirty-one, Gaudí took over the defining venture of his career: the Sagrada Familia cathedral. He devoted the final forty-three years of his life to this project.
Though Gaudí was both criticized and admired, he was undoubtedly of central importance in the art nouveau movement known in Catalonia as Modernisme. His work has made a lasting imprint on the face of Barcelona, where he died in 1926.
The Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona is Gaudí’s most recognized work.
If you’d like to experience some of Antoni Gaudí’s creations, take a trip on the Gaudí trail by viewing the slideshow below.
Explore More:
1. As you look at the slideshow, try to identify the various sources of inspiration that might have influenced Gaudí’s work. Then do some research to learn what influences are generally considered to have been the most important of his creations.
2. If you are interested in art and architecture, prepare a PowerPoint® presentation for your class that compares and contrasts Gaudí’s works with those of other architects of the same time period. Then take a poll to see which works the class liked the most. If your school hosts or participates in a multicultural fair or festival, you could present your PowerPoint® during this event. You could also do a presentation for some art classes at your school.
3. The article mentions that in addition to architecture Gaudí created furniture and objets d’art. See if you can find any pictures or information about some of these creations. Then share the information with your class.