Antoni Gaudi i Cornet, Dragon Door, 1884-87

Antoni Gaudi i Cornet, Dragon Door, 1884-87, originally uploaded by Gatochy.

Entry to the Finca Guell, Pedralbes 7 Avenue, Les Corts de Sarrià, Barcelona, Spain.

Wrought iron.

"The Dragon Door of the Finca Guell has to be considered a perfect testimony to the artistic quality of the Catalan works in wrought iron. This door is on a pillar of bricks and natural stone and opens in a singular vertical axis. The dragon represents Ládon, guardian of the Hesperus garden. By order of the goddess Juno it had to guard the golden apples in that garden. When Hercules defeated the monster it transformed into a constellation. Gaudi placed the door under an orange tree that crowns the pillars and is a symbol of great prosperity."

Scanned and quoted from the book "Art Nouveau" by Gabriele Fahr-Becker.

Click image for 900 x 594 version.