Louis Sullivan's Ornament and the Wright Rivalry
In 1923, Louis Sullivan, facing bankruptcy, created 19 plates for 'A System of Architectural Ornament' and contributed two articles to The Architectural Record. One article critiqued the neo-Gothic Chicago Tribune tower designed by Hood and Howells while praising Eliel Saarinen's submission. The other celebrated Frank Lloyd Wright's Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. Sullivan's collaboration with Wright ended in 1893 due to breaches of contract. By 1899, Wright was active in the Architecture League of America, which named Sullivan as its patron. Sullivan's situation worsened: his wife departed in 1907, he sold his vacation home in 1908, auctioned his library in 1909, was evicted in 1918, and worked at the Chicago Terra Cotta Company. Wright offered limited financial assistance. Sullivan passed away on April 14, 1924, at the age of 67.
Key facts
- Louis Sullivan wrote two articles for The Architectural Record in 1923, one criticizing the Chicago Tribune tower design and one praising Frank Lloyd Wright's Imperial Hotel.
- Sullivan and Wright's professional relationship ended in 1893 when Wright violated an exclusivity contract.
- Sullivan's wife Mary Azona Hattabaugh left him in 1907; divorce was finalized around 1916-17.
- Sullivan was evicted from his Auditorium Tower studio in 1918.
- Sullivan developed the concept of 'tapestry bricks' and 'jewel boxes' in his later rural bank designs.
- Wright's Imperial Hotel and concrete-block houses were responses to Sullivan's ornament problem.
- Wright delivered Sullivan's last two books on April 13, 1924, the day before Sullivan died.
- Sullivan died on April 14, 1924, at age 67; friends paid for his funeral.
Entities
Artists
- Louis Sullivan
- Frank Lloyd Wright
- Eliel Saarinen
- Rudolf Schindler
- Bruno Zevi
- Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi
Institutions
- The Architectural Record
- Chicago Tribune
- Architecture League of America
- American Institute of Architects
- Chicago Terra Cotta Company
- Artribune
Locations
- Chicago
- Tokyo
- St. Louis
- Missouri
- Ocean Springs
- Mississippi
- New York
- Japan
- United States