Lunette and decorative panel 1884 - 1885

These terracotta panels were made by Louis Henri Sullivan, an architect known as the "father of skyscrapers" and a mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, architects sought to develop a uniquely American architectural style, distinct from European traditions. Sullivan championed this idea, advocating for an architecture that reflected the democratic spirit of the United States. His designs incorporated nature-inspired motifs, evident here in the stylized floral and organic forms. Sullivan felt that architectural designs should speak to and uplift all members of society, regardless of class or background. These panels, with their repetitive, modular designs, were intended for mass production. This speaks to the burgeoning industrial era and the desire to make art accessible to a wider audience, a concept embraced by social reformers and artists alike. This piece embodies the hopes and anxieties of a nation grappling with its identity during a period of rapid change.