| The French and the Belgians called it Art Nouveau | | | | style! It is lucky for us that he was so prolific and |
| or the New Art. This period of integrated art may | | | | left a lasting legacy for all to enjoy and draw |
| have been short lasting a mere 24 years from | | | | inspiration from.Antoni Gaudi of Spain had a |
| 1890 to 1914, however, the influence of that time | | | | limitless imagination and his buildings are a true |
| has continued to this day. The artists who were in | | | | testament to his creative energy and individual |
| vogue then are just as much in demand now: | | | | style. At first his undulating walls and fantastical |
| Alphonse Mucha; Gustav Klimt; & Henri de | | | | creations were not well received as they were |
| Toulouse-Lautrec to name just a few. They were | | | | too unorthodox. Today, however, he is |
| considered ahead of their time then and their art | | | | considered a genius and the irregular lines and |
| was regarded as exciting and new.The Paris | | | | one-of-a-kind architecture have been embraced. |
| World's Fair held in 1900 really was the defining | | | | Thousands annually visit Barcelona for the sole |
| moment for this particular art form as over 50 | | | | purpose of seeing Gaudi's Familia Sagrada, Casa |
| million people attended. Upon visiting Siegfried | | | | Mila & Park Guere.Architectural ToursToday, |
| Bing's pavilion, their interest and enthusiasm | | | | theme tours are very popular and many of the |
| spread. As art dealer and entrepreneur he had | | | | great cities of Europe have specialty tours with an |
| opened a gallery in Paris in 1895 and called it L'Art | | | | emphasis placed on Art Nouveau style and |
| Nouveau which gave the movement its name. His | | | | architecture. Regarded by the locals as national |
| pavilion was filled with every example of Art | | | | treasures which they are only too proud to share |
| Design: wallpaper; fabrics; furniture; jewelry; | | | | and show off, Brussels, Prague and Riga in Latvia |
| glassware; and metalwork. Art Nouveau style | | | | all have excellent examples of Art Nouveau |
| could be identified by the flowing and curving lines | | | | design. And, as if you needed an excuse to visit |
| which were apparent in everyday household items | | | | these varied and interesting places, in the case of |
| as well as architecture and furniture. Even | | | | these cities it is like going to an open air museum. |
| women's fashions were created to reflect the | | | | Of course, there are many other locations across |
| new look.Charles Rennie Macintosh as architect | | | | Europe which, if you had the time, you would not |
| and furniture designer made furniture for specific | | | | want to miss; Paris, Vienna, and Turin could easily |
| spaces in the homes that he also designed. His | | | | whet your appetite. This wave of creativity made |
| architecture was so unique that equally unique | | | | its way around the world with Europe at the |
| furniture was required to fill the spaces. The | | | | center.Below is a listing of just some of the |
| traditional furniture available at the time would | | | | artists and architects of the Art Nouveau period |
| have appeared out of place in his homes. When | | | | with the cities where they lived or had |
| Charles and his close friend, Herbie McNair met | | | | commissions shown opposite. These are the |
| Margaret Macdonald and her sister, Frances, a | | | | places one must go in order to really appreciate |
| very unusual, romantic and artistic liaison | | | | their genius: |
| developed. All had studied art and would | | | | Charles Rennie Macintosh/Glasgow & Helensburgh |
| collaborate together on many projects. Together | | | | Scotland |
| they formed a powerful alliance and were known | | | | Frank Lloyd Wright/New York, Pennsylvania, |
| as the Glasgow Four with far reaching effect. In | | | | Wisconsin, USA |
| 1896 they were invited to exhibit at the London | | | | Antoni Gaudi/ Barcelona, Spain |
| Arts and Crafts Society Exhibition. Herbie and | | | | Victor Horta/Brussels, Belgium |
| Frances married in 1899 and moved to Liverpool. | | | | Hector Guimard/Paris, France |
| In 1900 Charles and Margaret were married and in | | | | Henry van de Velde/Netherlands, Germany |
| the same year Macintosh's architectural | | | | Otto Wagner/Vienna, Austria |
| masterpiece, The Glasgow School of Art, was | | | | J. M. Olbrich/Vienna, Austria |
| begun.The great Frank Lloyd Wright is a | | | | C. Harrison Townsend/London, England |
| wonderful example of someone who was | | | | Peter Behrens/Darmstadt, Germany |
| influenced by the Art Nouveau and Arts & Crafts | | | | Gustav Klimt/Vienna, Austria |
| movements. He designed not only the buildings | | | | Alphonse Mucha/Prague, Former Czech Republic |
| but also the furniture, stained glass windows and | | | | Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec/Paris, France |
| lamps which were an integral part of the overall | | | | If you love the style of Art Nouveau, consider |
| design. His commercial success not to mention his | | | | surrounding yourself with it everyday. We offer a |
| commercial designs for everything from a gas | | | | fine line of ceramic tile designed with the art lover |
| station, places of worship and the Johnson Wax | | | | in mind. Our decorative tiles incorporate many of |
| building to the Guggenheim Museum sealed his | | | | the best loved artistic styles. Surefiretile. |
| fate as America's favorite architect and icon of | | | | |