Phil's Story as a Liberty Photographer
I started travelling around Europe much later than many of my peers, and when I did start travelling I was drawn more to the towns and cities of continental Europe than I was to the party beaches that my friends preferred.
I was introduced to art nouveau by a girlfriend at the time, and while she was drawn more to the paintings of the likes of Mucha I was much more interested in the architectural expression of that art form.
It soon developed into a passion, and then an obsession as I made many long (and expensive) journeys to visit art nouveau buildings all across Europe.
Over the past 10 years, I have visited many art nouveau buildings and I have always had my camera with me for every visit.
I’ve tried to capture the beauty of art nouveau architecture so that other people are able to appreciate it as much as I do, even though many may not choose to travel in person to some of the towns and cities where these wonderful buildings can be found.
Palazzo Castiglioni in Milan, Italy (1901/1904) by Giuseppe SommarugaItalia Liberty
Liberty in Italy
Giuseppe Sommaruga designed Palazzo Castiglioni on behalf of the family between 1901 - 1904. It is located in Milan in Corso Venezia and is the headquarters of Confcommercio.
Casa Fenoglio La Fleur in Turin, Italy (1902/1902) by Pietro FenoglioItalia Liberty
Torino Liberty
Building La Fleur, by Pietro Fenoglio
Villa Ruggeri in Pesaro, Italy (1902/1907) by Giuseppe BregaItalia Liberty
Villa Ruggeri
Pesaro is home to the most representative building of the Italian Liberty style.
Villino Broggi-Caraceni in Florence, Italy (1911/1911) by Giovanni MichelazziItalia Liberty
Florence
The architect Michelazzi gave his original interpretation of the new style for modern Italy.
Villa Melchiorri in Ferrara, Italy (1904/1904) by Ciro ContiniItalia Liberty
Villino Melchiorri
In Ferrara, the architect Ciro Contini joined the Art Nouveau movement with his own production. Geometry in Liberty architecture is the basis of the design.
Casa Galimberti in via Malpighi, Milan, Italy (1903/1905) by Giovanni Battista BossiItalia Liberty
The Liberty in Milan
The Palazzo or Casa Galimberti in Milan was designed by the architect Giovanni Battista Bossi (1864-1924) in 1903-1905 on behalf of the Galimberti brothers.
Casa Galimberti in via Malpighi, Milan, Italy (1903/1905) by Giovanni Battista BossiItalia Liberty
From architecture to decoration
Casa Guazzoni in via Malphigi, Milan, Italy (1904/1905) by Giovanni Battista BossiItalia Liberty
Casa Guazzoni
By of Giovanni Battista Bossi, it was built in 1906 in Milan in via Malpighi 12.
The cement decorations can be observed.
Villa Sulflower, Bologna (1905/1905) by Paolo SironiItalia Liberty
Sunflowers in Bologna
Villa Ducloz-Dianola in Lucca, Italy (1903/1903) by Gaetano OrzaliItalia Liberty
Ducloz, a grand Art Nouveau villa
The Basílica de la Sagrada Família, Barcelona at night (1882) by Antoni GaudíItalia Liberty
Liberty in Europe
Can Negre, Sant Joan Despi (1915/1930) by Josep Maria Jujol i GibertItalia Liberty
Barcelona
Modernist yellow
Müller'sches Volksbad in Munich Germany (1897/1901) by Carl HochederItalia Liberty
Munich
Twentieth century architecture
Palau Güell, Barcelona (1888/1888) by Antoni GaudíItalia Liberty
Back to Barcelona
A coil entirely signed by Gaudì
Major Pessoa House / Art Nouveau Museum, Aveiro (1909/1909) by Ernesto Korrodi and Francisco Silva RochaItalia Liberty
Aveiro
Architectural wonders
Alesund Art Nouveau Detail (1904/1907)Italia Liberty
Alesund
Liberty circles and geometries
Phil Lewis is a UK-based photographer who has been taking photos seriously since 2016. Phil’s work has been published several times, in UK magazines such as Practical Photography, Outdoor Photography and Amateur Photographer, and in 2017 two of his photos were also chosen by legendary photographer Rankin for inclusion in a charity photobook named This Is Britain. Over the past 3 years, Phil’s work has also appeared a several local gallery exhibitions.
In addition to his local photography Phil is also a compulsive traveller who often bases his travel on specific photographic opportunities. In particular, Phil has amassed a wealth of photographs of the Art Nouveau architecture which exists across Europe, and is currently collaborating with some cultural organisations to ensure these photos can be shared appropriately.
Instagram @artnouveauman
www.italialiberty.it