Sculpture of the week - La Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudi

Antoni Gaudi, Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia, 1882-present
Barcelona, Spain
(Source)

Okay this is not a sculpture per se, but Vanillabear requested that this week's Piece of the Week be something by Gaudi. Gaudi's work is best characterised as part of the Modernist/Art Nouveau movement, all flowing curved lines and organic/floral motifs, particularly when you see his buildings that look like the balconies are melting.

La Sagrada Familia is actually a combination of Art Nouveau and Gothic Revival architecture which was also popular at the end of the 19th century. The line of rose windows on the *whiter* part of the church is pure Gothic architecture, while the towers' skeleton-like appearance follows Art Nouveau's taking it's influence from nature. La Sagrada Familia is famously unfinished despite Gaudi devoting the last 15 years of his life to the project. It is supposed to be finished in 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaudi's death. The church is rich in Christian symbolism which I won't go into because it's too complex.

I'm not a huge fan of La Sagrada despite it being Gaudi's masterpiece - from photographs it strikes me as being incredibly ugly. Maybe I need to see it in person with all that Spanish sun falling down on it while drinking some fruit juice and some hot hombre named Miguel is trying to chat me up :-P

For interior shots of La Sagrada Familia, please see Pooey's visit here!