In a handful of meadows in Suffolk, England growns Fritillaria, a delicate wild flower with chequered petals.
In 1914 the Scottish architect, artist & designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh arrived in Walberswick, Suffolk at a low point in his life; disillusioned with architecture & struggling with alcoholism. Soon after his arrival, C. R. M. began painting watercolours of the surrounding area, including studies of the local wild flowers. His condition improved; spending time in meadows of Fritillaria, it's easy to see why.
This watercolour is one of many beautifully observed flower paintings by the artist. Through the tension of line there is a stylised hand at work here, touching on Mackintosh's design background & his innate ability to impart a delicacy onto the objects he studied.
Lomond London Tan by NIXEY
Yet remarkably he also manages an intense precision in his work, in this case botanical accuracy, likened to Japanese art. This talent for breathing life into the inanimate, whether it's a building, interior space or painting, is a Mackintosh trademark & probably best summed up in this gorgoeus quote from a lecture he gave.
"Let every artist strive to make his flower a beautiful living thing, something that will convince the world that there may be, there are, things more precious, more beautiful - more lasting than life itself."
- Charles Rennie Mackintosh | 1902
Dreaming of those warmer days - spent in Fritillaria meadows perhaps - wearing Gingham dresses & tan bags. We have fallen head over heels for this gingham ruffle dress available at Frontiers Woman Edinburgh. It would look just lovely with our Lomond handle bag, don't you think?! The chequered petals of the Fritillaria flower remind us of glorious gingham, & both sing of summer!