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