William York MacGregor
William York MacGregor ( born October 14, 1855 in Finnart, Dunbartonshire, † September 28, 1923 in Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire ) was a Scottish painter of the late Impressionism and is known as the founder and mentor of the Glasgow Boys, a group of artists from the 19th and early 20th century.
Life and work
William York MacGregor was the third son of John MacGregor and his second wife Margaret York. His father John MacGregor was a shipwright and a partner in death and Macgregor. He died on September 23, 1858 a few days before the third anniversary of William York.
MacGregor studied at the Western Academy in Glasgow with James Paterson ( 1854-1932 ). Subsequently, the two visited the Glasgow School of Art, where they were instructed by Robert Greenless ( 1829-1896 ). 1877, they dedicated themselves in St Andrews, Stonehaven and Nairnshire of plein air painting. During this time, MacGregor was a student of James Docharty ( 1829-78 ). In the same year, and MacGregor Paterson requested the inclusion in the Glasgow Art Club, but were rebuffed. The applications of fellow painter James Guthrie and Edward Arthur Walton were also rejected. Then left and MacGregor Paterson Glasgow. MacGregor was informed at the Slade School of Fine Art in London by Alphonse Legros and Paterson studied in Paris at Jacquesson de la Chevreuse and later with Jean -Paul Laurens. Guthrie and Walton talked with Joseph Crawhall also in Paris.
After completing his studies at the Slade School MacGregor returned to Glasgow and lived in the 134 Bath Street, where he set himself up a studio. This studio became a regular meeting place for Paterson, Walton, Crawhall, also George Henry, John Lavery, Thomas Morton Corsan and other artists. There they exchanged models and materials, and discussed the new ideas of young French painters such as Jules Bastien- Lepage, whose plein- air painting fascinated. This group formed the core of the Glasgow Boys, with MacGregor was the founder and mentor of the Artists' Association since he was a little older than the other participants and also financially secure. He also gave instructions and allowed himself in his criticism also clear words. Only James Gutherie and Arthur Melville did not participate in these meetings, but exchanged it for the summer Malexkursionen intensively with colleagues from the artist. From 1881 lived in MacGregor 3 Park Street West in Glasgow with his mother Margaret York MacGregor, his half-sister Janet and his cousin William Yorke.
In winter 1882/1883 MacGregor a girl started working at a large, inspired by Bastien -Lepage painting, showing, selling vegetables at a market stall. However MacGregor distant 1884, the life-size figure, probably after he had seen similar images of Guthrie. It finally came the still life The Vegetable Stall, is the one of the most realistic paintings that have been created in Scotland in the 1880s, and is now exhibited in the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh. The other plein-air pictures of MacGregor show a skilful handling of direct sunlight, but reveal the appearance of persons as the great weakness of the painter.
After 1885, MacGregor moved from Glasgow back because he suffered from severe asthma, and settled in Bridge of Allan in the county of Stirlingshire down in order to be healthy. He spent two winters in southern England, probably with his brother Peter MacGregor who lived in Worthing. From 1888 to 1890 he lived in South Africa. During this time, James Guthrie succeeded him gradually as the leading figure of the Glasgow Boys. After his health had greatly improved, MacGregor returned to Scotland, but stopped during the 1890s only loose contact with the Glasgow School. His landscapes, never popular with collectors, remained bold in color and design. In 1892 he was appointed a member of the New English Art Club in 1898 and elected to the Royal Scottish Academy, where he could show his paintings regularly to the annual exhibitions. Twice he was also allowed to exhibit his works at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.
During these years he lived in Albyn Lodge in Bridge of Allen with his mother Margaret York and his half-sister Janet. 1901 died his brother Peter MacGregor. On April 30, 1923 MacGregor married at the age of 67 years Jessie Watson ( 1879-1941 ), but died later that year on September 28. His longtime friend James Paterson wrote that William York MacGregor loved tasty food, drank little or nothing, fine cigars smoked, but never whistle, was an avid reader, interested in classical music, but always shy with women.