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