Lunette and decorative panel 1884 - 1885

Louis Henri Sullivan made this lunette and decorative panel out of terracotta. Sullivan was an influential architect who worked primarily in Chicago and the Midwest. Sullivan is regarded as the ‘father of skyscrapers’ and a proponent of organic architecture. His work sought an architectural style that moved beyond historicism and was appropriate to the modern industrial age. The decorative designs seen here, with their botanical and geometric motifs, became a hallmark of Sullivan’s style. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Arts and Crafts movement was a reaction against industrialization. It emphasized handcrafted goods and the integration of art into everyday life. Sullivan's ornament can be seen as part of this movement, bringing nature-inspired designs to the urban environment, beautifying the commercial buildings that were being erected in American cities. The historian examines not just the object but also the social and institutional context in which it was made. Studying Sullivan's drawings, writings, and the history of architectural movements helps us to understand the cultural significance of his ornament.