Mackintosh en Roussillon
It is well-known that since the end of the XIXth century, Roussillon (Northern Catalonia or the Eastern Pyrenees) has been the chosen land of many artists and sculptors from elsewhere in France and around the world. Some were ignored by the general public at the time, others were already world-famous. They stayed for a short time – or a longer time and some were born here… They often chose Ceret, Collioure, or Perpignan … they left their traces in our squares and museums; evocations of their works punctuate our daily lives.
Among them, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Scottish by birth and best known around the world as an architect and designer, occupies a special place. Firstly, even though he stayed in our department with his wife Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh, herself a great artist, for four years, from the end of 1923 to the end of 1927, he is still almost unknown to the public – either residents or visitors. He was inspired by our landscapes and spent peaceful and undoubtedly happy days in Roussillon. But no mention of his stay here is made in the well-established museums. But then, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, or Toshie to his wife, chose neither CĂ©ret, nor Collioure, nor Perpignan. He chose AmĂ©lie les Bains, Ille sur TĂªt, Mont-louis and above all Port-Vendres.
It is to correct this forgotten history that our association has set itself the task of telling you about him and his work and more particularly the watercolors he painted during his stay in our department and in Port-Vendres. We allow you to discover him …