Antoni Gaudi.

Book Detail
Author: Antoni Gaudi
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Taschen Deutschland; 1st. edition (August 1, 2002)
Language: German
ISBN-10: 3822821691
ISBN-13: 978-3822821695
Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds 
Size: 256 MB
Format: PDF

Book Description

The complete works of the great Antoni Gaudi (TASCHEN's 25th anniversary special edition) Anyone who visits Barcelona today will come across the works of Antoni Gaudi - the architect who has attracted art-lovers from all over the world to Spain, it was here, in the capital of Catalonia, that the famous master of architecture produced nearly all of his works, including villas for the well-to-do bourgeoisle, the expansive Guell Park (which today is open to the public), and the famous church designed in honour of the Holy Family - a project which was begun over 100 years ago and has yet to be completed. Antoni Gaudi's life was full of contradictions. As a young man he joined the Catalonian nationalist movement and was critical of the church; toward the end of his life he devoted himself completely to the construction of one single church. As a young man Gaudi had a liking for the glamour of social life and the looks of a dandy; in old age, on the other hand, he lived a spartan life. Gaudi never married and devoted his life entirely to his art: architecture. His works have been acclaimed as "soothing oases in a desert of functional buildings," as "precious gems in the uniform grey of rows of houses," and the master himself was acclaimed as the "Dante of architecture". This book provides a sweeping study of his entire career, presenting his complete works via texts and illustrations.

About The Author

Rainer Zerbst studied modern languages at the University of Tubingen and in Wales from 1969 to 1975. From 1976 to 1982 he worked as a research assistant in the Department of English at the University of Tubingen. Since completing his doctorate in 1982, Zerbst has been active as a critic in the fields of art, literature and the theatre. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Reviews

No one who has ever ranted at the unimaginative architectural desert of any given major city of the world can resist the sheer originality and genuis of Antoni Gaudi. Barcelona must be the luckiest city in the world!

The book gives a brief introduction to the life of the artist (including the tragic way he died), but the bulk of the book focuses on his major works, from his first commission, the tile palace Casa Vicens to the famous still unfinished Sagrada Familia. Beautiful photographs of interiors as well as exteriors are supported by a descriptive prose. What I enjoyed most were the details of furniture, specially designed fittings (stained glass windows, lamps, tiles) and of course the colourful mosaics which feature on several projects. And what Gaudi does with the arch structure is truly reverant!

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to vicariously enjoy the beauty and innovation of Gaudi. It can serve as a reminder for those lucky enough to have seen the buildings - and for the rest of us, another reason to visit Barcelona in the future.

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