An accessible account of the contradictory life and work of the modernist Catalan architect.
The celebrated art nouveau architect Antoni Gaudì was a contradictory figure: a deeply religious, politically right-wing man who nevertheless built revolutionary buildings. This book explores Gaudì's life, work, and influences from Catalan nationalism to the industrial revolution. Michael Eaude expertly guides readers through Gaudì's dozen great works, including the Sagrada Famìlia that attracts millions of tourists each year.
Gaudì's life is also chronicled from his provincial upbringing in Reus to his time in Barcelona. He later suffered a nervous breakdown, became obsessively religious, and fused Gothic, Baroque, and Orientalist architecture into his unique style. This brief biography offers an accessible introduction to this perplexing and fascinating life.