Architectural Jottings by Charles Rennie Macintosh (The Glasgow Institute of Architects, 1968) presents a collection of Macintosh’s architectural sketches. The introduction has been written by Andrew McLaren Young who has also done the selection for the publication. The book was produced to celebrate the Centenary of Charles Rennie Macintosh’s birth. Macintosh ((1868–1926) was a leading figure in the ‘Art Nouveau’ movement one of the finest example being his design for the Glasgow School of Art (1899).
Macintosh’s jottings – and his more finished drawings also – are more than records: above all they convey his own enjoyment. Of a visit to Abbotsbury in 1895 he wrote: “On leaving the station all the beauties of the place are arrayed in front of you in such a way as to raise in any architectural enthusiast burning desires of ambition and endeavour. On the distant hill is St. Catherine’s Chapel, as if it had dropped from heaven: and nestling round the base of this hill is the village, with the fine old church overlooking all, an emblem of help and strength. Then there is the Manor House, the ruins of the abbey, the monastic barn, the gatehouse, many fine old cottages and one delight full old inn with a grand old barn behind (now used as the bar), all framing an assemblage of architectural objects of interest and instruction such as on can seldom see within so small an area.” These words tell us as much about Mackintosh the architect as about Mackintosh the spectator. A hilltop building ‘dropped from heaven’ – does not this suggest Windyhill or the now sadly obscured south façade of the School of Art? And is there not in Hill House – and the deliberately shaped trees beside it – something of the spirit of Abbotsbury Manor House (illustrated on p. 14)?
– Andrew McLaren Young, Introduction to Architectural Jottings by Charles Rennie Macintosh (The Glasgow Institute of Architects, 1968, p.2.
The book has English text, but it mostly consists of Charles Rennie Macintosh’s sketches and architectural drawings.
The copy in our stock is in good condition. The pages are clean without any markings, and the staple binding is fine. There is some slight age-related toning on the pages, and the covers show some minor signs of shelf wear.