Читать книгу Antoni Gaudí - Jeremy Roe - Страница 9

One way to measure Gaudí’s public recognition is the response to his death. He was killed as a result of an accident. On Monday 7 June 1926, after a day’s work in the workshop of the Sagrada Familia, he set off on foot, as was his custom, across the city to the Church of San Felipe Neri to attend confession. He was never to arrive. In the inquiry into his death the driver of a tram reported that he had hit a man who appeared to be a tramp, and that he had been unable to slow down.

The tramp-like figure was none other than Gaudí! After the accident he was assisted by two passers-by and the Guardia Civil, who eventually took him to a nearby dispensary. This after being refused assistance from several taxi drivers due to the appearance of the victim.

As a result of being knocked over by the tram Gaudí suffered fractured ribs, cerebral contusions and hemorrhaging in his ear. He was taken to hospital, yet he remained unidentified. The failure to identify Gaudí may be explained by the fact that his personal austerity had become such that he rarely changed his clothes, which were recognisable to his peers.

Although his appearance and clothes had been the subject of caricatures in the press, when seen in the grave context of a hospital and not set against the backdrop of the Sagrada Familia, his image rendered him anonymous.

However, Gaudí had not been forgotten. His friend Mossèn Gil Parés became concerned by his absence and that evening began looking for the architect in Barcelona’s hospitals. He was found in the Santa Cruz hospital.

After he was recognised he was moved to a private room and the following day he regained consciousness. The news spread and Gaudí was visited by friends, official representatives of Church and State and others who wanted to show their respect for the architect.

As well as these displays of recognition for the man and his work, Gaudí’s final days were also a display of his faith and political sentiments. He was given the sacrament of the Last Rites, and as he lay in bed awaiting death he held a crucifix. He had been offered a private clinic rather than the public hospital. Nevertheless he insisted that he remain and end his life amongst the people.

Gaudí died on Thursday 10 June. His passing was marked by a funeral that honoured his contribution to the traditions and faith of the Catalan people. Papal permission was acquired to bury him in the crypt of the Sagrada Familia, and the funeral took place on the Saturday.

The procession that followed his coffin to its final resting place testified to the architect’s importance and recognition among the different areas of society: it included politicians from Barcelona as well as his native town of Reus; representatives of the Church; members of the religious and cultural associations to which he had belonged and to which he had contributed to, and many of the craftsmen from the city-workers’ guilds also attended.

In this way the passion and commitment that Gaudí had shown in the different aspects of his life and work were all commemorated.

19. Güell Crypt, Stained glass window.