Stained Glass for House of an Art Lover
Part of the Glasgow style as well as Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s style is a lot of stained glass work. In 1901, Mackintosh entered a design competition to design a house for people who love art work. He had designed a house but was disqualified for a so-called “rule-break.” His design remained a concept until 1989 when an architect decided to bring the concept to life. Then “House of an Art Lover” was opened in 1996. It now serves as a venue for many events and as a gallery to Charles Rennie Mackintosh. This is a stained glass window that is featured at the house. This design has been transformed into a poster for print and it can be distributed. The design contains the “cabbage rose” that is very signature to the Glasgow style. The elegant linework and little pops of color show that this came from the period of Art Nouveau and Glasgow. The rose ties in the natural perspective and some of the inspirations from these movements. The design almost appears fragile and delicate, especially being stained glass. Although Charles Rennie Mackintosh never got to see his house design completed, the house serves as a tribute to him. This famous window is seen and visited by many. His art is celebrated and on display for all.
“ Charles Rennie Mackintosh: ‘He Was Doing Art Deco before It Existed.’” The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/jun/07/charles-rennie-mackintosh-architect-of-choice-blade-runner-doctor-who-madonna-glasgow. Accessed 4 Apr. 2022.
House of An Art Lover, https://www.houseforanartlover.co.uk. Accessed 4 Apr. 2022.
I find my eye is most drawn to what I assume is the “cabbage rose”. It seems to be the focal point of the piece. I notice the rose appears to have different shades of pink or red. This is the most appealing part of the artwork to me, and on first glance I thought the circular colorful shapes did nothing to elevate the design. However, when I imagined the window without them I realized quite the opposite. Somehow, the entire design of the window feels out of balance if any element is removed! After a bit of thought I came to the conclusion that this is because the artist has organized the design in a way that directs the viewer’s eye along an intended path.
Hi! For some reason, I am drawn to the blue piece that is located in the upper right corner of the stained glass. As we know, the cabbage rose is meant to be the focal point, but I am curious to know what the blue stained glass is supposed to be. Perhaps another flower? Or part of the sky?
It is interesting that this particular piece has been printed into a poster and can be bought for purchase. Most of the time we see stained glass being in churches, or in large houses that were build in the early 1900s. If an individual had stained glass windows, more likely than not, it meant that they were very financially stable and considered part of the upper class. According to kansascitystainedglass.com, vintage or antique stained glass windows can be sold for anywhere between $2,000 to $100,000 depending on the size and installation process. I am very curious to know what the price for stained glass windows in churches are in the early 1900s and modern times, as we know that usually the stained glass windows in churches have extreme detail and a long installation process.