Anton Gaudi i Cornet. He is the most popular architect in history. His revolution in architecture and plastic arts lays the foundations for current and future art. His work is a search for the perfection of art, personal perfection and the perfection of human society.
Summary
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- 1 Biographical summary
- 1 Studies
- 2 Professional videos
- 3 Architectural work
- 4 Works
- 5 Death
- 2Fuente
biographical synthesis
He was born on June 25, 1852 in Reus according to some biographers and according to others in Riudoms – a small town near Reus. His parents are Francesc Gaudí i Serra (born in Riudoms) and Antònia Cornet i Bertran (born in Reus). The profession of his father, a boilermaker, influenced him, in his spatial conception, in his interest in decorative elements and in his manual skill.
Studies
In 1860 he did his first studies at the school of Master Berenguer in Reus and in 1863 he studied high school at the Escuelas Pias in Reus, later moving to Barcelona where he studied at the Institute of Secondary Education and at the Faculty of Sciences.
In 1873 he entered the Provincial School of Architecture of Barcelona, where he graduated in 1878, obtaining the title of architect.
Professional life
His professional life took place in Barcelona , where a fundamental part of his work can be seen. The social situation in which he lived, a time of strong economic and urban development of the city, the patronage of a powerful middle class with a desire to get closer to the prevailing trends in Europe , the coincidence with the “Renaixença” phenomenon, served a breeding ground for his overflowing fantasy and imagination.
Influenced by Viollet Le Duc and Ruskin, he was one of the fundamental pillars of ” Modernism “, a style within which he is classified, although his is an aesthetic , like that of many great geniuses, difficult to classify, with many opinions included within other artistic currents.
His life is closely related to the Güell family, a family of great prestige within the industrial and artistic circles of the time in Barcelona. For this family he built an important part of his work, such as the Palau Güell, the Colonia Güell Crypt and the Park Güell, among other works.
architectural work
In addition to a wide representation of residential and urban buildings, his architectural work was sublimated within the religious sphere in which some of his most important works can be classified, such as the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the Crypt of Colonia Güell in Santa Coloma de Cervelló and the Colegio de Santa Teresa de Ganduxer also in Barcelona .
His vision of architecture as a whole, makes his mark manifest not only in the facades and external areas of his buildings, but also in the interiors that denote an intense work that he developed with the collaboration of numerous artisans. After the times of oblivion and criticism generated by “Noucentisme” (dominant artistic current in Catalonia between 1920 and 1936), today, Gaudí’s fame is a fact recognized throughout the world, both by specialists as well as the general public.
Construction
It takes place in workshops of prestigious architects of the time. Among these we can point out Francesc Villar i Lozano, architect of the bishopric of Barcelona and first architect of the Sagrada Familia, with whom he collaborated in the realization of the Chapel of the Virgin in the Montserrat Monastery.
sacred Family
He collaborated with other prestigious professionals of the time that allowed him to refine his knowledge of architectural techniques, such as his collaboration with Martorell i Sala and Josep Fontseré.
In 1878 he carried out a series of works that are already beginning to have a certain importance:
- The project of your own artboard.
- He designs the furniture for the chapel of the pantheon of the Marquis of Comillas.
- Commissioned by the Mayor of Barcelona, he made the streetlights for the Plaza Real.
- Commissioned by the glove merchant Esteve Comella, he made a showcase in wrought iron, wood and glass for the presentation of his products at the *Universal Exhibition in Paris.
- Build a theater in Sant Gervasi.
- Builds a residential building for the Mataró Workers’ Cooperative.
- Build a kiosk for the sale of flowers.
- In the summer of this same year he began to write a diary on architecture known as “The Reus Manuscripts”.
In 1879 he became part of the directive of the Catalanist Association of Scientific Excursions. He carries out decorative works in the Jesús-Maria convent in Sant Andreu del Palomar and in the Gibert pharmacy on Canuda street (now defunct). He initiates the first studies for the construction of Casa Vicens.
In 1880 he designed the altar of the chapel of the Jesús-María school and also the lampposts of the Paseo de la Muralla – named after Catalan admirals in Barcelona, which were never built. He is named a member of the Organizing Committee of the Exhibition of Industrial Arts, which opened on December 21 of that year.
In 1881 he presented a project, which was not accepted, to a competition to build a Casino in San Sebastián. He made a pavilion with lampposts and paintings by Alexandre de Riquer, to install in the Palacio de Sobrellano de Comillas on the occasion of a visit by King Alfonso XII. He designs the altar of the chapel of the Colegio de Jesús-María in Tarragona. He draws the plans for the factory of the Cooperativa Obrera de Mataró.
In 1882 he worked as an assistant to the architect Joan Martorell on the projects for the churches of the Jesuits in Casp and the Salesas on Paseo de San Joan in Barcelona.
He carried out the project for a hunting lodge on the properties of Count Güell in Garraf, which was never carried out. On March 28, 1884 he signs the first official document as architect of the Sagrada Familia. He begins the reform of Finca Güell in Pedralbes (Barcelona), which ends in 1887.
Caprice
In 1885 he made an altar, reliquary and tabernacle for the promoter of the Holy Family, Josep Bocabella.
In 1886 he signed the Güell Palace project and was in charge of its construction. He finishes the construction of the seven chapels of the Crypt of the Holy Family. In 1887 he was in charge of the restoration of the Salón de Cent and the access staircase of the Barcelona City Council, projects that were not carried out.
He built the building of the Sagrada Familia vicarage, in which he installed his workspace where he would live the last years of his life. He finishes the works of Finca Güell. In February he accepts the commission for the new Episcopal Palace of Astorga.
In 1888 – Exhibits some projects at the Barcelona Universal Exposition and in its maritime section, he creates the Transatlantic Company Pavilion. Casa Vicens finishes. In the month of March 1889 he replaced the previous architect in the expansion works of the Colegio de Santa Teresa in Ganduxer street in Barcelona.
Güell Palace is finished. In December , he signs the plans for the Casa de los Botines de León. He makes the altar of San José de Calasanz in the Basilica of Montserrat.
In 1892 the construction of the Nativity façade of the Sagrada Familia began. Between January and September, the Casa de los Botines de León is built. In 1895 the works of the Bodega Güell in Garraf began. The construction of the cloister of the Sagrada Familia begins.
Calvet House
In 1898 work began on Casa Calvet, which was awarded the City Council prize for the best building of the year. He joined the Círculo Artístico de Santo Lluc, an entity dedicated to promoting the arts from a Catholic point of view, founded by the brothers Joan and Josep Llimona in 1893.
In 1900 he reformed the façade of the Pere Santaló house on Nou de la Rambla street (before Count of Asalto). Decoration of a room at the Café Torino on Passeig de Gràcia. The urbanization works of Park Güell begin. Construction begins on Casa Bellesguard. He carries out a project for the monumental Via Crucis of Montserrat, for the first Mystery of Glory. The works of Casa Calvet finish. The Caprice .JPG
In 1904 he began the total remodeling project of Casa Batlló. He projects a part of the Mercé cinemas on Barcelona’s Rambla. In 1906 – Work begins on La Pedrera, also known as Casa Milà. Casa Batlló receives the Barcelona City Council award for one of the best buildings of the year. In 1908 he began work on the Crypt of Colonia Güell.
In 1910 , he exhibited plaster models of his works at the Grand Palais in Paris from April 15 to June 30 , with great success. In 1918 he made a sketch for a monument to Prat de la Riba-first president of the Commonwealth of Catalonia-in Castellterçol.
Le Corbusier, 1920 , visits the works of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, which he describes as a masterpiece. In 1925 he moved to live inside the Sagrada Familia complex to follow the works more closely.
Death
On June 7, 1926, he was run over on Barcelona’s Gran Vía between Bailèn and Girona streets by a number 30 tram. Initially he was not recognized – due to the simplicity of his clothing – and was taken to the Hospital de la Santa Cruz, where, once identified, he died on June 10, 1926 surrounded by his collaborators and friends. He was buried in the chapel of the Virgen del Carmen in the crypt of the Sagrada Familia.
