Exhibition of selected drawings and correspondence from the Bourdon
Archive on public display from tomorrow
Archive on public display from tomorrow
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Eugène Bourdon: Design for a Pilgrimage Chapel (1895)
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““These drawings
exemplify the high standard of draughtsmanship and mastery of formal
exemplify the high standard of draughtsmanship and mastery of formal
planning expected of a French student and
constitute one of the most comprehensive
constitute one of the most comprehensive
collections of Beaux Arts drawings of the
period.”
period.”
Gavin Stamp
“The Beaux Arts system of
architectural education consists of giving the foremost place to the Study of
Design. It is assumed, as a matter of course, that the architect must have a
complete training as a practical builder and as a man of business, and that he
must be a man of education in a word, he must be a professional man. But
these qualities, though necessary, are not sufficient to make an architect that
is, an artist. Design is the proper function of the architect, and the training
of young architects to design is the most important duty of architectural
educators”
architectural education consists of giving the foremost place to the Study of
Design. It is assumed, as a matter of course, that the architect must have a
complete training as a practical builder and as a man of business, and that he
must be a man of education in a word, he must be a professional man. But
these qualities, though necessary, are not sufficient to make an architect that
is, an artist. Design is the proper function of the architect, and the training
of young architects to design is the most important duty of architectural
educators”
Eugène Bourdon
The Glasgow School of
Art is showcasing drawings from the Eugène Bourdon Archive this month to mark
the centenary of his death. Eugène Bourdon:
From the Classroom to the Battlefield runs in the Reid
Building from 5 November – 4 December 2016.
Art is showcasing drawings from the Eugène Bourdon Archive this month to mark
the centenary of his death. Eugène Bourdon:
From the Classroom to the Battlefield runs in the Reid
Building from 5 November – 4 December 2016.
The first Professor of
Architectural Design at the united Glasgow School of Architecture, Eugène
Bourdon was trained at L’Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris spending most of his
eight years at the institution in the atelier of Honoré Daumet and Charles-Louis Girault. The
Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections holds over 100 of the drawings that
Bourdon made during this period and which he brought to Scotland in the early
years of the 20th century for teaching purposes.
Architectural Design at the united Glasgow School of Architecture, Eugène
Bourdon was trained at L’Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris spending most of his
eight years at the institution in the atelier of Honoré Daumet and Charles-Louis Girault. The
Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections holds over 100 of the drawings that
Bourdon made during this period and which he brought to Scotland in the early
years of the 20th century for teaching purposes.
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| Bourdon: Design for a covered Circus (1890) |
Among the drawings
held in the Bourdon Archive are a design for the façade of a covered equestrian
circus (1890); a series of construction studies for a military riding School
(1891); a design for a College de France (1891); a building for a science faculty
(1893); a ballroom in a grand theatre
(1894) and a luxury block of apartments (1895) and several large detailed and
rendered drawings for Bourdon’s 1895 Diploma project including a domed
pilgrimage chapel in the Byzantine-Romaneque style used by Paul Abdie of the Sacré Coeur Basilica in
Montmatre.
held in the Bourdon Archive are a design for the façade of a covered equestrian
circus (1890); a series of construction studies for a military riding School
(1891); a design for a College de France (1891); a building for a science faculty
(1893); a ballroom in a grand theatre
(1894) and a luxury block of apartments (1895) and several large detailed and
rendered drawings for Bourdon’s 1895 Diploma project including a domed
pilgrimage chapel in the Byzantine-Romaneque style used by Paul Abdie of the Sacré Coeur Basilica in
Montmatre.
Also on show in the
exhibition will be documents from Bourdon’s time with the GSA, most
particularly his correspondence from the Western Front including the optimistic
telegram from September 1914: “Commencer Session
sans moi enregistrez Marques Donnes arriverai après guerre”
exhibition will be documents from Bourdon’s time with the GSA, most
particularly his correspondence from the Western Front including the optimistic
telegram from September 1914: “Commencer Session
sans moi enregistrez Marques Donnes arriverai après guerre”
Eugène Bourdon (1890s – 1904)
Having graduated from
the Ecole des Beaux-Arts Bourdon initially worked for the French Government
four years as an inspector for the 1900 Exposition Universelle with particular
responsibility for the Petite Palais. In 1900 he left France and embarked for
the USA spending the next two years in New York. Little is known of his work in
the period but there are references to him designing the façade for one of the “famous
skyscrapers” in an interview he gave to the Glasgow Technical College Magazine
in 1911. On returning to France he once again worked with Girault and was set
to begin work as an independent architect before the invitation to come to
Glasgow arrived.
the Ecole des Beaux-Arts Bourdon initially worked for the French Government
four years as an inspector for the 1900 Exposition Universelle with particular
responsibility for the Petite Palais. In 1900 he left France and embarked for
the USA spending the next two years in New York. Little is known of his work in
the period but there are references to him designing the façade for one of the “famous
skyscrapers” in an interview he gave to the Glasgow Technical College Magazine
in 1911. On returning to France he once again worked with Girault and was set
to begin work as an independent architect before the invitation to come to
Glasgow arrived.
Eugène Bourdon (1904 – 1914)
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| Eugène Bourdon (centre) with the staff and students of the School of Architecture |
In the early 1900s
there were two institutions teaching architecture in Glasgow: The Glasgow
School of Art and the Glasgow Technical College. In 1903 The Glasgow School of
Art was on the look out for a Professor who could take charge of advanced
studies as well as directing the preparatory studies in a unified Glasgow
School of Architecture. The School was also looking to reorganise the teaching
of Design and so a deputation was dispatched to France. The direct consequence
of the deputation was the appointment of Giraldon as Professor of Design. He
was then tasked with making enquiries for a architecture professor. Bourdon
arrived in Glasgow in 1904.
there were two institutions teaching architecture in Glasgow: The Glasgow
School of Art and the Glasgow Technical College. In 1903 The Glasgow School of
Art was on the look out for a Professor who could take charge of advanced
studies as well as directing the preparatory studies in a unified Glasgow
School of Architecture. The School was also looking to reorganise the teaching
of Design and so a deputation was dispatched to France. The direct consequence
of the deputation was the appointment of Giraldon as Professor of Design. He
was then tasked with making enquiries for a architecture professor. Bourdon
arrived in Glasgow in 1904.
Over the next ten
years he had a significant impact on the teaching of architecture growing the
department and bringing the rigour of the Beaux-Arts education system to the
curriculum. “For all students the emphasis was on practical work with the largest
proportion of the time devoted to design projects. Theses were carefully
structured according to Beaux-Arts principle that a short , concise design
sketch (esquisse) should be followed by a longer methodical working out of the
design. The initial idea remained embedded in the design throughout its
development.” (Robert Procter)
years he had a significant impact on the teaching of architecture growing the
department and bringing the rigour of the Beaux-Arts education system to the
curriculum. “For all students the emphasis was on practical work with the largest
proportion of the time devoted to design projects. Theses were carefully
structured according to Beaux-Arts principle that a short , concise design
sketch (esquisse) should be followed by a longer methodical working out of the
design. The initial idea remained embedded in the design throughout its
development.” (Robert Procter)
Eugène Bourdon 1914 – 1916
Throughout his time
with The Glasgow School of Art Bourdon was registered as an architect in
Versailles and remained a reservist in the French army. Although in his 40s at the
outbreak of WWI he answered the call to arms. By 1916 he had reached the
rank of staff captain in the 78th Brigade, had twice been mentioned in Army
Orders, and was awarded the Croix de la Legion d’Honneur, the Croix de Guerre
and the British Military Cross. Throughout his time on the Western Front
he maintained a regular correspondence with the GSA even directing the
teaching. He was among the almost 30,000 men killed on the first day of the
Battle of the Somme.
with The Glasgow School of Art Bourdon was registered as an architect in
Versailles and remained a reservist in the French army. Although in his 40s at the
outbreak of WWI he answered the call to arms. By 1916 he had reached the
rank of staff captain in the 78th Brigade, had twice been mentioned in Army
Orders, and was awarded the Croix de la Legion d’Honneur, the Croix de Guerre
and the British Military Cross. Throughout his time on the Western Front
he maintained a regular correspondence with the GSA even directing the
teaching. He was among the almost 30,000 men killed on the first day of the
Battle of the Somme.
The Glasgow School
of Art has three memorials to Bourdon: a stained glass window commissioned from
Robert Anning Bell by The Glasgow School of Art and a bronze tablet and bust
commissioned from Alexander Proudfoot. In 1979 a new School of Architecture
building at the GSA was opens which bears the name of Eugène Bourdon. Writing
in ‘An Architect of the Entente
Cordiale’ Gavin Stamp suggest that “Bourdon’s real memorial (at the time of his
death) was the School of Architecture. Although reorganization in the post war
years would even wipe that away, the generation of architects trained under
Bourdon would go on to design prominent Glasgow buildings in the interwar years
including Graham Henderson (designer of the Mercat Building at Glasgow Cross
who would ultimately replace Mackintosh at Honeyman & Keppie); Edward Grigg
Wylie (Scottish Legal Assurance Society Building in Bothwell Street) and
Richard M.M.Gunn (Union Bank of Scotland Building, St Vincent Street). Also
among the Bourdon cohort were Whyte & Galloway designers of the former
Stow College Building which was acquired by the GSA earlier this year adding
another link in the chain between the institution and the “civilized architectural values and modern American perspective
imparted by Professor Bourdon” (Gavin Stamp)
of Art has three memorials to Bourdon: a stained glass window commissioned from
Robert Anning Bell by The Glasgow School of Art and a bronze tablet and bust
commissioned from Alexander Proudfoot. In 1979 a new School of Architecture
building at the GSA was opens which bears the name of Eugène Bourdon. Writing
in ‘An Architect of the Entente
Cordiale’ Gavin Stamp suggest that “Bourdon’s real memorial (at the time of his
death) was the School of Architecture. Although reorganization in the post war
years would even wipe that away, the generation of architects trained under
Bourdon would go on to design prominent Glasgow buildings in the interwar years
including Graham Henderson (designer of the Mercat Building at Glasgow Cross
who would ultimately replace Mackintosh at Honeyman & Keppie); Edward Grigg
Wylie (Scottish Legal Assurance Society Building in Bothwell Street) and
Richard M.M.Gunn (Union Bank of Scotland Building, St Vincent Street). Also
among the Bourdon cohort were Whyte & Galloway designers of the former
Stow College Building which was acquired by the GSA earlier this year adding
another link in the chain between the institution and the “civilized architectural values and modern American perspective
imparted by Professor Bourdon” (Gavin Stamp)
Ends
Further information
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474
press@gsa.ac.uk
@GSofAMedia