Sagrada Familia

• Artist + commissioner + date

  • Antonio Gaudi
  • Josep Bocabella
  • Still being built
• Style + purpose + inspiration

  • Catalan modernism
  • Highlights the culmination of "organicism", since Gaudi's main inspiration for the catholic church was nature
• Give a composition point about the interior columns + CT

  Point: Gaudi took pre-existing Gothic plan as starting point, yet made number of changes, taking ideas from naturally occurring forms since he “conceived the interior of the church as a huge forest” (stated by Jordi Fauli).

  Reasoning: Lower columns within building replace the capitals into two separate sections, which then stretch out to different heights into tallest columns of central nave and aisle vault.

  
• Give a composition point about each interior branch

  Point: Each “branch” supports the small part of the vault.

  
  

  Reasoning/effect: Much like trees supporting a canopy of leaves.

  
• Give a composition point about the vaulted area between interior branches

  Point: Area of vaulting between the “branches” becomes skylights.

  
  

  Reasoning: Allowing zenithal light to enter, as from above a canopy.

  
  

  Effect (1): Increase sacredness

  Effect (2): Appear “heaven-like”

  Effect (3): Revealing harmony - as the man-made structures aim to intensify and celebrate beauty of nature.

  
• Give a composition point about the internal colossal windows.

  Point: Colossal windows of the naves are also hyperboloid forms that intertwine.

  
  

  Effect: Creating a sense of movement within the architecture.

  
• Give a composition point about the pinnacles on exterior windows

  Point: Exterior too influenced by local plant and animal forms, conveying Gaudi paying homage to nature.

  
  

  Evidence: Pinnacles on largest aisle windows are decorated with almonds, apples, figs, peaches, and cherries, in which they have been placed specifically according to their seasonal fertility.
• Give a composition point about the exterior Apse wall

  Point: The Apse walls feature gargoyles, which are however in the forms of snails, lizards, geckos, serpents and frogs.
• Give a composition point about the exterior Nativity Facade

  Point: (only facade finished in Gaudi's lifetime) Features sculptured elements and softened edges.

  Reasoning: Building contains fluid curvilinear lines which help to smooth edges of the angular vertical emphasises created by church’s tripartite composition.
• Give final composition point about exterior three portals

  Point: Contains three portals.

  
  

  Reasoning: Represent theological virtues: Hope (on left) is dedicated to Joseph, Faith (on right) is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Charity (in centre) which dedicates Jesus.

  
  

  Each portal is decorated with bronze flora of lilies, ivy and roses with tiny insects such as bees and spiders.

  
  

  Effect: Once again highlighting that nature was a prominent influence for Gaudi.