Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MODERNISME - WHO'S WHO AND WHAT'S WHAT
Modernisme -theCatalanoffshootofArtNouveau-wastheexpressionofarenewedup-
surge in Catalan nationalism. Catalunya's economic recovery in the early nineteenth cen-
tury provided the initial impetus, and the subsequent cultural renaissance - the Renaixença
- led to fresh stirrings of a new Catalan awareness and identity . Three architects in partic-
ularcametoprominence inBarcelona and,indoingso,introducedabuildingstylethathas
given the city a look like no other.
ANTONI GAUDÍ I CORNET
Born in Reus, near Tarragona, to a family of artisans, the work of Antoni Gaudí i
Cornet (1852-1926) was never strictly modernista in style, but the imaginative impetus
he provided was incalculable. Fantasy, spiritual symbolism and Catalan pride are evident
in every building he designed, while his architectural influences were Moorish and Gothic,
embellished with elements from the natural world. These themes are visible in projects as
diverse as his extraordinary suburban industrial estate, Colònia Güell, and his masterpiece
cathedral, the Sagrada Família. Yet Gaudí rarely wrote a word about the theory of his art,
preferring to leave it to the buildings to provoke a reaction- no one stands mute in front of
an Antoni Gaudí masterpiece.
Key buildings and works :
Colònia Güell
Palau Güell
Parc Güell
La Pedrera
Sagrada Família
LLUÍS DOMÈNECH I MONTANER
With Gaudí in a class of his own, it was Lluís Domènech i Montaner (1850-1923)
who was perhaps the greatest pure modernista architect. Drawing on the rich Catalan
RomanesqueandGothictraditions,hisworkcombinedtraditionalcraftmethodswithmod-
ern technological experiments - with spectacularly innovative results.
Key buildings and works :
Castell dels Tres Dragons
Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau
Palau de la Música Catalana
JOSEP PUIG I CADAFALCH
Like that of other modernista architects, the work of JosepPuigiCadafalch (1867-1957)
contains a wildly inventive use of ceramic tiles, ironwork, stained glass and stone carving.
His first commission, the Casa Martí , housed the famous Els Quatre Gats tavern for the
city'savant-garde artists andhangers-on,whileinuptownmansionsbuiltforthenewlyen-
Search WWH ::




Custom Search