Gaudi

Antoni Gaudi occupies a unique position in the history of moden architecture. A true genius, this Catalan architect had no predecessors and no successors; his flamboyant art stands alone as a unique achievement. Between the mid-1880s and his death in 1926 Gaudi designed a large body of work, including apartment houses, private residences, the extraordinary Guell Park, and religious and secular institutions, most of them concentrated in and around Barcelona. His crowning and most famous work, which occupied him for over 40 years, was the bizarrely beautiful Church of the Sagrada Familia. Richly illustrated with over 90 large-scale color plates reflecting the full range of the architect's work, this book represents a rewarding overview of an inimitable architect. An authoritative introduction by art historian Maria Costantino charts the progress of Gaudi's working life and explains his sometimes bizarre theories and working practices, to make this a beautiful and invaluable guide to a fascinating enigma.