Barcelona Sketchbook
Founded as a Roman city, Barcelona became the capital of the County of Barcelona in the Middle Ages. After merging with the Kingdom of Aragon, it continued to be an important city as an economic and administrative centre and the capital of the Principality of Catalonia. Besieged several times during its history, Barcelona has a rich cultural heritage and is today a major tourist destination being one of the world’s most visited cities. Particularly renowned are the architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner, which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city is also an important port, has hosted two International Exhibitions and is known for its successful Summer Olympics in 1992.
Accompanying the paintings and sketches are observations and notes handwritten by the artist, as well as a learned and informative introduction to Barcelona and its various areas by heritage expert Marcus Binney.
Marcus Binney is a historian and writer with a passion for European architecture especially the decades around 1900 — Barcelona’s most creative age. He has written for many years, both for Country Life magazine and The Times. He is the founder and chairman of SAVE Europe’s Heritage. His books include London and Cambridge Sketchbooks (with Graham Byfield), Great Houses of Europe, In Search of the Perfect House, Great Stations of Europe (with Axel Foehl), Airport Builders, Town Houses and The Women who lived for Danger.