Post on 20-May-2015
description
John C. GarnHist 141
T & Th 0930-1100
The early years of Frank Lloyd
Wright Born Frank Lincoln Wright June 8th, 1867 Richland Center, Wisconsin Changed name to Frank Lloyd Wright after parents
divorced Mother believed he would be an architect even before
he was born
Dropped out of high school in 1885 Worked for Alan Conover for 2 years
Completed 2 semesters at University of Wisconsin in 1886 as a special student under Conover’s tutelage
Left suddenly for Chicago in 1887 to become an architect
Training
Chicago’s building boom Great Fire of 1871 destroyed most of the inner
circle of Chicago The depression in 1873 retarded construction
until the end of the decade Chicago was also in the middle of a population
boom which made new development plentiful
Wright joins the architectural firm of Joseph Lyman Silsbee as a draftsman Silsbee worked primarily Victorian and
revivalist styles Wright worked there for about a year
Wright joins Adler and Sullivan as an apprentice Progressive vs. classical
Sullivan believed that architecture should grow from observing elements native to the surrounding area
Form follows function Wright is promoted to head draftsman
Remained with Sullivan until 1893 Moonlighting caused him to split with Adler and
Sullivan and begin his own firm
The good building is not one that hurts the landscape, but one that makes the landscape more beautiful than it was before the building was built.
-FLW
Wright was also heavily influenced by Japanese art Went to Japan with wife Kitty Studied Japanese architecture and design
Felt that Japanese architecture eliminated all but the essential elements of any design
Liked how the Japanese architecture was connected to nature
Amassed a large collection of Japanese prints Traded in Japanese art until he died Frequently used his art collection as collateral
for loans or to remain financially solvent