God’s Architect
Gaudí is the inspiration for Sotoo Etsuro, chief sculptor of the Sagrada Família. But who was Gaudí’s inspiration?
“I do not know if we are giving this degree to someone crazy or to a genius; only time will tell.”
These were the words of the director of the architecture program at the University of Barcelona as he presented a degree to the young Antoni Gaudí.
In fact, Gaudí’s early work did look to some like the work of someone out of his mind. Consider Park Güell with its strange buildings and animals. And with his blond hair and blue eyes, Gaudí looked different from other Catalans.
History has answered the question. Gaudí was a genius.
As a young man, Gaudí liked to dress in the latest fashion and drive around Barcelona in a horse-drawn carriage. All that changed in 1883 when he was asked to take charge of the Sagrada Família. Gaudí had always been religious, but from that time on, he dedicated himself entirely to God.
Interestingly, the story of how Gaudí became the chief architect of the Sagrada Família sounds like a religious myth. Josep Bocabella, who had started the Sagrada Família, was searching for an architect to complete it. One night, Bocabella had a dream: a knight with blond hair and blue eyes came to save his church. Later, when Bocabella met Gaudí, he recognized him as that dream knight. He asked Gaudí to become the chief architect of the Sagrada Família.
From then until the end of his life, Gaudí followed the path of medieval monks. He moved into his small workshop at the church and devoted himself to work and prayer. He never married, ate simple meals, and dressed in old clothing.
Gaudí’s work shows his deep faith. God was his inspiration. He designed as God would want him to: “Those who look for the laws of Nature as a support for their works are working with God.”
Someone crazy or a genius? Above all, Antoni Gaudí was “God’s architect.”
Gaudí is the inspiration for Sotoo Etsuro, chief sculptor of the Sagrada Família. But who was Gaudí’s inspiration?
“I do not know if we are giving this degree to someone crazy or to a genius; only time will tell.”
These were the words of the director of the architecture program at the University of Barcelona as he presented a degree to the young Antoni Gaudí.
In fact, Gaudí’s early work did look to some like the work of someone out of his mind. Consider Park Güell with its strange buildings and animals. And with his blond hair and blue eyes, Gaudí looked different from other Catalans.
History has answered the question. Gaudí was a genius.
As a young man, Gaudí liked to dress in the latest fashion and drive around Barcelona in a horse-drawn carriage. All that changed in 1883 when he was asked to take charge of the Sagrada Família. Gaudí had always been religious, but from that time on, he dedicated himself entirely to God.
Interestingly, the story of how Gaudí became the chief architect of the Sagrada Família sounds like a religious myth. Josep Bocabella, who had started the Sagrada Família, was searching for an architect to complete it. One night, Bocabella had a dream: a knight with blond hair and blue eyes came to save his church. Later, when Bocabella met Gaudí, he recognized him as that dream knight. He asked Gaudí to become the chief architect of the Sagrada Família.
From then until the end of his life, Gaudí followed the path of medieval monks. He moved into his small workshop at the church and devoted himself to work and prayer. He never married, ate simple meals, and dressed in old clothing.
Gaudí’s work shows his deep faith. God was his inspiration. He designed as God would want him to: “Those who look for the laws of Nature as a support for their works are working with God.”
Someone crazy or a genius? Above all, Antoni Gaudí was “God’s architect.”