DOI Heft:
No. 183 (February 1925)
DOI Artikel:The work of messrs. Falconer, Baker and Campbell, architects, [2]
DOI Artikel:Taylor, Ernest Archibald: W. Y. MacGregor, R.S.A.
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21402#0095
W. Y. MACGREGOR, R.S.A. BY
E. A. TAYLOR 0000
\--x
, j OY the passing away of W. Y. Macgregor
D in September, 1923, Scotland lost one
of her most outstanding artists, and here
I use the word " artists" with a fuller
meaning than that so widely connoted by
it at the present day. He never was, nor
did he seek to become, a popular painter,
his ideals beckoning him beyond that
ephemeral glamour. Fortunately, or other-
wise, his life's circumstances did not
necessitate his courting popular apprecia-
tion, but even had they done so, I doubt
if the artist in him would have deviated
from the paths he throughout his life most
earnestly trod. He had, perhaps, however,
a greater battle to fight, and that one of
continual ill health, which in his efforts
washstand by messes, fal- to combat he spent a year or two in South
coner, baker and campbell Africa, with other sojourns in Spain and
France, from each of which he returned
he was practising abroad and are not only witn some masterly water-colours which
delightful drawings but contain some cannot be easily excelled. 000
attractive features indicating his versa-
tility and ability as a designer. His sketch
books are filled with virile and imaginative
ideas which incidentally prove his mastery
of many crafts and his unflagging interest
in the minor arts which are so closely
related to architecture, and which usually
receive such scant attention from the pro-
fession. The washstand, illustrated on
this page, is an instance of care and thought
bestowed on details, and is an excellent
example of character and dignity achieved
by simple means skilfully controlled. It is
a pity that architects do not concern them-
selves more with the internal decoration
and equipment of the buildings they
handle. Their active co-operation would
be an invaluable stimulant, of inestimable
service in counteracting the undiluted
commercialism which controls the output
of the furnishing trades. If there is to be a
real renaissance of industrial art it must
be inspired, in the first instance, by the
activities of individuals who are not
dominated solely by " business " interests.
The refinements of human environment,
the truer aims of civilised production, are
continually menaced by the gross material-
ism of the age. 0000 " briege on the spey
<n R W (BROAMHILlJ ." by w.
o. D, W. y> MACGREGOR, R s.a.
89
E. A. TAYLOR 0000
\--x
, j OY the passing away of W. Y. Macgregor
D in September, 1923, Scotland lost one
of her most outstanding artists, and here
I use the word " artists" with a fuller
meaning than that so widely connoted by
it at the present day. He never was, nor
did he seek to become, a popular painter,
his ideals beckoning him beyond that
ephemeral glamour. Fortunately, or other-
wise, his life's circumstances did not
necessitate his courting popular apprecia-
tion, but even had they done so, I doubt
if the artist in him would have deviated
from the paths he throughout his life most
earnestly trod. He had, perhaps, however,
a greater battle to fight, and that one of
continual ill health, which in his efforts
washstand by messes, fal- to combat he spent a year or two in South
coner, baker and campbell Africa, with other sojourns in Spain and
France, from each of which he returned
he was practising abroad and are not only witn some masterly water-colours which
delightful drawings but contain some cannot be easily excelled. 000
attractive features indicating his versa-
tility and ability as a designer. His sketch
books are filled with virile and imaginative
ideas which incidentally prove his mastery
of many crafts and his unflagging interest
in the minor arts which are so closely
related to architecture, and which usually
receive such scant attention from the pro-
fession. The washstand, illustrated on
this page, is an instance of care and thought
bestowed on details, and is an excellent
example of character and dignity achieved
by simple means skilfully controlled. It is
a pity that architects do not concern them-
selves more with the internal decoration
and equipment of the buildings they
handle. Their active co-operation would
be an invaluable stimulant, of inestimable
service in counteracting the undiluted
commercialism which controls the output
of the furnishing trades. If there is to be a
real renaissance of industrial art it must
be inspired, in the first instance, by the
activities of individuals who are not
dominated solely by " business " interests.
The refinements of human environment,
the truer aims of civilised production, are
continually menaced by the gross material-
ism of the age. 0000 " briege on the spey
<n R W (BROAMHILlJ ." by w.
o. D, W. y> MACGREGOR, R s.a.
89