Every man who appreciates classic style — especially the sophisticated, art nouveau flair made popular during the 1920s that remains popular in fashion and design to this day — owes a debt of gratitude to Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
This great son of Scotland and longtime resident of Glasgow touched seemingly every realm of art — including architecture, interior design, furnishings, painting, decorative arts and even fonts.
Any visitor to Scotland should stray from the more traditional tourist attractions and stroll up to the Glasgow School of Art where Mackintosh studied before he designed the impressive building that now houses the school’s current students.
His Glasgow School of Art Library (left) is a masterpiece within a masterpiece. Lit by large windows and elaborate mechanical light fixtures, its tables and furniture remain museum pieces and some art off limits even to students to preserve the artist’s work.
Beyond his architectural work, most average observers will probably recognize two of Mackintosh’s most prominent works — the high-backed Mackintosh Chair (below) and the art deco Mackintosh font (above). Both are still in use today and provide an immediate classical sense of style and design to any room or document to which they’re applied.
There are decorative art flares throughout men’s fashion that track back to Mackintosh. His affection for the natural world and plant life led to his use of flower imagery in many of his designs. His love for geometric patterns found its way into art nouveau design and undoubtedly influenced the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. If you head into any upscale menswear store, you’ll undoubtedly find neckwear, pocket squares and cufflinks influenced by the Scottish artist.
Tours for art and style loving travelers are offered at the Glasgow School of Art while classes are in session. All tour guides are equipped with ample knowledge of the current school, its past and its most famous graduate.
