Mac Charles Rennie - Scottish architect, founder of the Art Nouveau style in Scotland: biography, most important works

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Charles Rennie Mackintosh - a man who made a huge contribution to the development of design, the creator of a unique architectural style and the most striking figure in the architecture of the 19th century.

Birth of a legend

The future founder of the Art Nouveau style was born into the family of a policeman in the city of Glasgow on June 7, 1868. It is noteworthy that the future great architect was born in a city that is the cultural heritage of Scotland and, not being the capital, has a huge financial, business and cultural role. At the time of the birth of the child, no one could have imagined that in a few decades he would become another famous person who would be proud of the city of Glasgow. The first prerequisites for this appear at the age of 5, when the child devotes a lot of time to painting, and, in particular, drawing flowers. Charles's parents supported Charles' interest in every possible way, and thanks to them, he enters an art school that specializes in his hobby.

Glasgow Style

Throughout the entire period of study, Mackintosh tried to invent a new graphic language, unique, bright and memorable. Thanks to this obsessionhe constantly sketches natural forms, patterns and all kinds of objects that catch his eye. After a while, he notices that his fellow students have similar habits and hobbies, they unite in the group "Four", with which the "Glasgow style" will be developed, but the creative handwriting of each member of the group remains individual.

From this moment, the development of joint works, various furniture, posters and other interior items begins. Charles Rennie Mackintosh enriches his creative world, adopts the style features of other members of the group, and in 1895 his first performance at an art exhibition as a poster artist will take place. However, he is still faithful to architectural creativity, unlike other members of the group, who do not share his views.

First successes

In 1900 Mackintosh Charles marries Margaret MacDonald. In this marriage, he will be until the end of his life, for the sake of his beloved, he risks his work and his connections. The union turned out to be quite prolific, because his wife is a stained glass artist and painter, and also has a wide range of interests. She becomes Charles' muse and together they create hundreds of interiors.

In the same year Mackintosh Charles visits an exhibition in Turin, where he creates the Scottish pavilion. Each member of the Four receives an invitation to decorate a room at an exhibition in Vienna, which at that time was the foremost center of the avant-garde. The exhibits on display are a huge success and quickly find their buyers. Prince of Russia Sergei Alexandrovich invites the Macintosh to Moscow. Glasgow is on the rise. Munich, Dresden, Budapest and many other cities recognize it as a style, great architects actively use it in their work. Charles takes part in the Moscow Exhibition of Architecture, where he surprises the public and evokes rave reviews from everyone, full of emotions. The great architects of that time predict a wonderful creative future for him.

Flourishing creativity

Charles Macintosh, whose biography is interesting to contemporaries, becomes the only member of the Four who is seriously involved in architecture and has orders in Glasgow. 1890s - the heyday of the city in all plans. The city of Glasgow becomes the commercial and business center of the country. This determines the development of a vibrant cultural life and the provision of opportunities for representatives of the arts. McIntosh creates his first project, The Lighthouse, which is a special commission from a local publisher.

Glasgow School of Art

Mackintosh's career took off after the announcement of a competition for the design of the building of the Glasgow School of Art, the winner of which was Mackintosh Charles. This work was simple and ordinary. The lack of money played a role in the construction, which was decided to be divided into two parts. The northern part was opened in 1899, and the western one in 1907. It is this time that becomes the most productive for the architect, who also tries himself as a designer. Upon completion of construction, the difference between the two parts of the building becomes apparent,the later one turned out to be more progressive and “flashy”. McIntosh is gaining a reputation as a talented artist.

Hill House

Success follows Charles on his heels, and in 1902 he begins designing his own house, Hill House ("Hill House") Mackintosh. The location of the house is ideally chosen: orientation to the cardinal points, organic placement on the landscape. Complete control over the project, achieved through close acquaintance with clients, allowed for the most daring experiments. The patronage of Catherine Cranston, the owner of a network of tea establishments throughout the city, allowed her not to limit herself in finances. Macintosh becomes the first to use stencils in interior decoration. Hill House is the most creative and mathematically thought out project of the architect. The resulting style had previously only been used in the Mackintosh home, where they experimented with the placement and color scheme of the "men's" and "women's" rooms.

According to the architect's idea, the first floor should be used only by ladies, men's rooms and other rooms intended for guests are located above. The de Luxe rooms are made in a unique style that organically fits into the overall design concept of the house. Spacious windows, a frieze made of colored glass painted on white walls, lead glass used to make double doors with silver decorations, purple-tone armchairs and sofas with elegant high backs.

Author's rationalism

Charles' talent wasin the ability to think over the architectural plan and design concept, along with all the small details of the functioning of the object. It was thanks to the desire for maximum rationalism in his ideas that Mackintosh Charles was interested in modern technologies and materials, which he actively used in his work. Thanks to this, he became an innovator who was not afraid to combine concrete with cobblestone, use a mirror and steel, but his greatest achievement was the use of plastic in his work.

The baronial style, inherent in the medieval castles of Scotland, firmly sat down in Macintosh's head and it was on it that he was guided when designing his works. The architecture of Italy and Greece, used in Scotland in his time, did not please the author, as, in his opinion, was unsuitable for the local climate. Functionalism was successfully combined with the romantic images of buildings, thanks to which they became so beloved by the architect.

The end of the great master

1914 becomes a year of depression due to the loss of partnership with Honeyman. A difficult period begins, giving rise to many rumors about the architect. Someone says that he drinks, someone - that he cannot find new customers because of his character. Charles did not communicate with anyone during this period and was thinking of moving to Vienna, because the possibilities of his homeland were exhausted, and his authority in Austria was significantly greater than in Glasgow. Plans collapse along with the outbreak of the World War. Mackintosh moved to Suffolk, where he created a series of watercolors. Because of hisCreativity is arrested on suspicion of espionage. After some time, he manages to defend his innocence, and he is forced to move to London.

Job search failed due to excessive ambitions of Charles Mackintosh, who was looking for a job corresponding to the status. The architectural world of London recognizes the "Glasgow School" as an outdated style and pays attention to the classics. Charles Rennie Mackintosh is engaged in design, development of furniture, performs various orders for the development of sketches of fabrics. But it could not continue like this, and it was clear that it was necessary to do things that could bring more income and pleasure. Charles creates a series of chairs, designs clocks, lamps, fireplaces and tables. His things are ahead of time, they are like lines, reminiscent of a whiplash, geometric and functional, like the most daring modern solutions. His product line is gaining success, but he still doesn't have the ability to build, so he's busy creating a series of paintings.

Author furniture by Charles Macintosh

The chair model, known to this day, excites the minds of many people who bought a Macintosh chair. The very high back, straight legs and trapezoid seat give the impression of something ancient and extremely stylish. Despite this, the chair is extremely simple: carpentry with a rectilinear construction. Refinement and elaboration of the smallest details are the key to the sophistication of the final product. Playing with color, material and natural qualities of wood has left an indelible markin history. To this day, these pieces of furniture are popular.

The Last Years of Charles Rennie Mackintosh

The disappointments of the architect are growing, the 20th year gives the development of German architecture, while the style of the Macintosh is becoming obsolete, the most important works of the master are no longer of interest to the public. Charles moves to the south of France, where he will spend the last years of his life before he dies in London in 1928.

The disappointments of the architect Charles Mackintosh were great, and during his lifetime he did not receive as much response as he deserved. Many of his works are still relevant today, some are used, others are the cultural heritage of the country. Furniture made according to his designs has a high sales rate, and his design methods are actively used in the modern world. As often happens, fame and recognition found its owner only after his death. To date, this is one of the brightest personalities in the history of architecture.