Louis Sullivan :: essays papers

Louis SullivanLouis Sullivan was without a doubt one and only(a) of the most influential figures in American architecture. He can be credited with lying the foundation of todays modern skyscrapers. In addition, he has produced some of the most magnificent ornaments seen in 19th and twentieth century, which adorned his buildings.On September 3, 1856, Louis Henri Sullivan was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His came from an Irish convey and a French m some other. Louis led a sheltered childhood as result of the civil war, and spent a good deal of duration on his grandparents farm outside of the city. It is here that Sullivan developed an intense theory of nature, which would be apparent in his later snip. By the age of twelve, Louis persistent to pursue a calling in architecture. Moses Wilson, one of Sullivans highschool school teachers, introduced him to the disciplines of silence, attention, and alertness, which are necessary components of the abilities to observe, refl ect, and discriminate. These would serve to help him in his career pursuits. Asa Gray, a botanist from Harvard who lectured at his school, caught his interest in the morphology of plants. At the age of sixteen, he was admitted dickens years early to the Massachusetts wreak of Technology.Sullivans first employment came as a draftsman for the architectural firm Furness and Hewitt in Philadelphia, which he felt was best suited to his tastes. An economical panic resulted in his layoff from the firm and his relocation to Chicago. It was here that he went to work for Major William LeBaron Jenney. It was not long before Louis had acquainted himself with numerous other architects in the city the most important of whom would turn out to be John Edelman.The summer of 1874 had Sullivan traveling overseas to the Ecole des Beaur Arts in Paris. After passing rigorous admissions tests, he studied geometric descriptor from Monsieur Clopet. Next, Louis toured Italy to study its fine work s of art.Sullivan returned to Chicago in 1875, where he worked some(prenominal) draftsman positions over the next five years. After this period, John Edelman introduced him to Dankmar Adler. The two formed a partnership in 1881 that would last fourteen years. Sullivan handled the introduction of their architecture, while Adler oversaw the engineering and acoustic areas of the firm. Louis had two main protegees over the subscriber line of his career.