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Antoni Gaudi is one of the best-known and most well respected architectural figures ever to emerge from Spain. Over the years, the work of Gaudi has become recognized internationally and his artistic creations remain some of the most recognizable and popular in the world today. The simple grace and noble character of Gaudi architecture at times seems to defy the very laws of gravity. His soaring style is instantly recognizable as Gaudi. The architecture of Antoni Gaudi is often referred to as a combination of Art Nouveau and neo-Gothic, but many art critics also see touches of cubism and surrealism in Gaudi's works.
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The early years of Antoni Gaudi |
Antoni Gaudi was born in Reus in the Catalonia region of Spain in 1852. His father was a coppersmith. While he was a student at the School Maestro Berenguer in Reus, he would meet his lifetime best friend, Eduard Toda Guell. At the age of eleven, Gaudi attended San Francis Convent. During the summer, he often went to Mas de la Caldereta de Ruidoms. During his youth, Antoni Gaudi 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. This appreciation of nature his love of the natural world would later be reflected in his work.
At seventeen, Antoni Gaudi attended College in Barcelona, where he studied Architecture. Along with a good friend, Gaudi came up with an idea to restore the old monestary of Poblet. Gaudi continued to study architecture even as he served with the Spanish infantry. Although Gaudi spent time on deployment several times, he never engaged in combat.
While in the university, Gaudi was known for his independent character and would rather hole up in the library than go to class. It was during this time in the library that he discovered the philosophy of Llorens, Barbara, Mila and Fontanals.
Gaudi learned many skills and was a jack of all trades. He learned carpentry, ceramics, iron smithing and glassmaking skills as well as architecture. Gaudi graduated as a Master Architect in 1878 and went on to work for Eusebi Guell and produced many famous works such as the chapel of San Feliu de les Corts de Sarria.
Antoni Gaudi loved architecture and had the opportunity to study under quite a few master architects of the time. Fontsere directed Gaudi as he designd the Ciutadela Park. In addition, Gaudi worked for architects like Emilio Sala Cortes, F.P. del Villar Lozano, and Leandro Serrrallach. Montrell was also a highly influential person in Gaudi’s architectural studies and it was under his tutelage that Gaudi studied a unique form of engineering known as static graphic design. The laws of equilibrium are paramount in this branch of engineering and these studies opened up entirely new aspects of architecture that later led to some of Gaudi’s most important works such as the Cathedral of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
Among the most revered works of Gaudi are the Villa de Arcadia in Montjujic, and a trolley that led from the Arcadia to the Peace Gate. With the tutelage of Serralach, Gaudi helped design the Villa de Arcadia in Montjujic. Along with Juan Salamera, he worked on the design of the trolley railway that would lead from the Arcadia to the Peace Gate.
Due to his rising fame, Gaudi was suggested and accepted to design of a new Cathedral in Barcelona that would later become known as La Sagrada Familia. He agreed to the project after his master Villar had abandoned it after may differences with the company doing the construction work. Ultimately, Gaudi died before the Cathedral was completed. However, construction is now underway to finish Gaudi’s final masterpiece.
In addition to the cathedral, Gaudi went on to design several other projects in Barcelona. One of these was the Salon de Ciento’s renovation. D uring the Expo in 1888, Comillas gave Gaudi the opportunity to design the Transatlantic Pavilion.
Gaudi’s final yearsNear his death, Gaudi became increasingly religious. In 1894 he almost lost his life from a self-imposed Easter fast. When he recovered, he was able to designd the Nativity on the Sagrada Familia. This strong religious fevor is evident in many of his non-religious works. By the year 1908, Gaudi was renowned across Spain for his secular and non-secular works alike.
In 1922, fellow architect Asensio asked that the Sagrada Familia be funded by the state. After approving this motion, Gaudi was to sign the Illustrious Person book in Barcelona’s music palace. The final eight months of Gaudi’s life were consumed with work on Sagrada Familia and he refused all other projects.
On June 7, 1926, as Gaudi was crossing Gran Via, he was hit by passing traffic. Gaudi passed away in the a few days later in the hospital, having never regained consciousness. He died at age 74, and a funeral was held to honor one of the finest architects Spain had ever known. |
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