Sculptors & Architects Codexery

Hector Guimard

French architect known for Art Nouveau Métro entrances.

Last updated

His critical reputation revived in the 1960s after most of his works had been demolished.[1] A total of 167 Métro entrances were installed between 1900 and 1913, with 88 still surviving.[2][3]

Life and work

In 1899 it was selected as one of six winners in a Paris competition for best new building façades.[4] He is best known for the glass and iron edicules he designed for Paris Métro station entrances.[5] Hector Guimard's birthplace was Lyon, and his birth date was 10 March 1867.[6] On 17 March 1887 he obtained his diploma, after which he started studying architecture at the École des Beaux-Arts.[6]

The Castel Béranger, an apartment building with 36 units, was Guimard's first recognized major work; its construction took place between 1895 and 1898.[4] On 12 January 1900, just a few months prior to the Métro system's opening, Guimard received the commission for its entrances.[4] In the early 20th century, Guimard's popularity decreased as the Art Nouveau style fell out of fashion.[4][7]

What the cited sources add

The Bibliothèque Nationale de France notes that Guimard's work was largely destroyed and only re-evaluated since the 1970s.[8] A Guardian article reports that a museum dedicated to Guimard will open at the Hôtel Mezzara around the end of 2027.[2] The same article states that Guimard's wife donated his drawings and smaller creations to museums, many in the US.[2] It also notes that Guimard invented the typography used for the yellow porcelain Métropolitain signs.[9]

Le Cercle Guimard lists the Hôtel Guimard at 122 avenue Mozart as built between 1909 and 1912.[10] The same source records that the office building at 10 rue de Bretagne was constructed from 1914 to 1919.[10]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Hector Guimard" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Graham, "Hector Guimard", The Museum of Modern Art, 1970, p. 4–14; "The Story Behind Paris' Iconic Art Nouveau Métro Entrances", My Modern Met, 1 May 2019; Graham, "Hector Guimard", The Museum of Modern Art, 1970, p. 4–14; "Hector Guimard", Bibliothèque Nationale de France (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Kim Willsher, "'Forgotten' designer of art nouveau Métro entrances to get Paris museum", The Guardian, 2025-07-04. facts only, no text reused. theguardian.com
  3. Wikipedia, "Hector Guimard" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: F. Lanier Graham, "Hector Guimard (Exhibition Catalog)", Museum of Modern Art, 1970, p. 14; Kim Willsher, "'Forgotten' designer of art nouveau Métro entrances to get Paris museum", The Guardian, 2025-07-04; Vigne 2016 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Hector Guimard" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Vigne 2016 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Hector Guimard" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Vigne, Georges, Hector Guimard - Le geste magnifique de l'Art Nouveau, (2016), Editions du Patrimoine, Centre des Monuments National, p. 40 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Hector Guimard" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Vgne, Georges, Hector Guimard - Le Geste Magnifique de l'Art Nouveau (2016), p. 197 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Hector Guimard" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Vigne 2016; Vigne, "Hector Guimard", Charles Moreau, 2003 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. "Hector Guimard", Bibliothèque Nationale de France. facts only, no text reused. passerelles.essentiels.bnf.fr
  9. "Hector Guimard - Life and Legacy", theartstory.org. facts only, no text reused. theartstory.org
  10. "Le Cercle Guimard - L'œuvre bâti", lecercleguimard.fr. facts only, no text reused. lecercleguimard.fr

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Hector Guimard (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

Also in the Codexery

Hector Guimard · Architects

More in Sculptors & Architects

Isamu NoguchiJacopo SansovinoJacopo della QuerciaJohann Bernhard Fischer von ErlachJohann Lukas von HildebrandtClaude Nicolas LedouxCésar PelliDavid AdjayeDavid d'AngersDorothy DraperEduardo ChillidaErich Mendelsohn

Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

Spotted an error? Know more?

Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced

Comments

Loading…
Open in the interactive codex →