Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife Margaret MacDonald were later inspirations for Klimt. He was a Scottish architect, designer, water colourist and artist influential on Art Nouveau and Secessionism. She was an artist and designer working with embroidery, gesso panels, leaded glass and repoussé metalwork, her innovative work inspired by Celtic imagery, literature, symbolism, and folklore. Both were important figures of the Modern Style though she has been marginalised in comparison to him despite his claim that she was the greater genius.
Klimt’s Lederer masterpiece (sold recently) was inspired by Margaret Macdonald’s large gresso panel, The May Queen (a middle section above).
Rennie McIntosh, 7 June 1868 11.15 am Glasgow, Scotland, had a 10th house Gemini Sun with an inventive Uranus also in his 10th opposition a Capricorn on square Neptune Jupiter in Aries in his 8th . He drew his inspiration from deep places within him with such a focus on his 8th and that plus a ‘leadership’ Leo North Node marked him out as a trailblazer. He’d be emotionally intense with his Moon trine Mars Pluto in Taurus and his Saturn on his IC hinted at a domestic life focused on work.
Latterly the couple lived in Port Vendres in Catalan France and then in Hampstead and he died of cancer aged 60.
Margaret Macdonald, born 5 November 1864, Staffordshire, England, met him at Glasgow Art School after her family moved north. She was a Sun Mercury in Scorpio opposition Pluto so every bit as intense and enduring (stubborn) as he was. Her Mars in Gemini was in a hard-working trine to Saturn and inspirational trine to Uranus, with her Saturn probably square her Capricorn Moon.
Neither were easy temperaments and with her Mars conjunct his Sun they would argue though she would also fuel his ambitions.
Their relationship chart was complicated with a competitive composite Sun square Mars; a chained-together Saturn Pluto pacified by a connected Jupiter; an upbeat and affectionate Jupiter, Venus, North Node, Mars imprinting their togetherness on the cultural mood of the time; and most significantly two yods bringing them together in a way that affected the destiny of both.
One of their most famous creations was Miss Cranston’s Tea Room in Glasgow. Catherine Cranston, 27 May 1848, was a leading figure in the development of tea rooms (as an alternative to pubs) and was a major patron of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret MacDonald, for his work on her home Househill and the tea room. She had a Gemini Sun like Rennie McIntosh which in her case was square Neptune and sextile a tough-minded Mars Saturn in Aries. She had a revolutionary Uranus Pluto in Aries so would be on the leading edge of new developments. Her Jupiter in enthusiastic, showy Leo was square Rennie Mcintosh’s Mars Pluto and Margaret’s Scorpio Sun and Pluto as she gave them an outlet for their intense visions.
In astrology, Daedalus is often associated with inventiveness, ingenuity, cleverness, and problem-solving ability. Individuals with a prominent Daedalus in their natal chart may be skilled in architecture, design, or become acknowledged leaders or innovators in their field. The asteroid Daedalus is linked to these qualities, representing a person’s ability to create and solve problems creatively.
empressatlantis.com
Daedalus’s story, particularly his creation of the Labyrinth and wings for himself and his son Icarus, illustrates his ingenuity and the risks he took to escape imprisonment. These actions reflect the asteroid’s influence on individuals who are known for their creative and problem-solving skills.
Astrologers often use the asteroid Daedalus to explore the creative potential within individuals and to understand how their innovative thinking can lead to significant achievements.
Margaret’s Daedalus aspects her MH of career….skilled in architecture and design.
Below is Margaret Macdonald’s rectified chart….enlarge by clicking on floating magnifier.
At death, trans Pluto conj MH and trans Uranus conj Desc.
Alan Leo’s POINT OF LIFE progression….7 degrees per year of life….at age 68+ puts
Point of Life conj her IC of endings.
Frankland’s progression of 4/7 Part of Life puts the Age Point conj her 8th cusp, death.
Her Age Along the Ecliptic, measuring from 00Aries, is at 8Geminis sextile natal Neptune,
ruler 6th, in 6th of illness.
In her Solar Return, super imposed on her natal, SR Pluto conjuncts natal MC;
SR Asc conj her 8th cusp and SR Uranus conj her Desc.
Kindness to the poor is shown by natal Neptune in the 6th.
https://ibb.co/spG0RGZ1
Here is Macdonald’s rectified chart. Click on floating magnifier to enlarge.
At death, trans Pluto conj MH, trans Uranus conj Desc.P
Alan Leo’s POINT OF LIFE progression….7 degrees per year of life….puts Margaret’s
Point of Life at death exactly conj her IC of endl=ings and square natal Saturn, rIC.
English astrologer Frankland’s measure puts 4/7 Point of Life at Margaret’s 8th House.
Margaret was 68+ yrs and her age along the ecliptic from 0 Aries, progressed to 8Gemini,
sextile her natal Neptune,r6, in 6, illness.
Natal Neptune in 6th shows her kindness to the poor.
https://ibb.co/spG0RGZ1
Here is her rectified chart. Enlarge by clicking floating madnifier. She attented a
schoof for architecture and design. Saturn, architecture , and Dadealus, design, both
aspect the MH of career.
https://ibb.co/spG0RGZ1
Marjorie, as much as I love your political astrology and enlightened analysis of the charts of political figures and and political and world situations, I equally appreciate your articles about artistic and literary figures. You’ve introduced me to so many fascinating people I had never encountered or knew little about. I always come away having learnt something new — which often sends me down a rabbit hole thirsting for more information.
In this case it adds to my knowledge of Klimt, whose work I love. A few years ago my husband and I made a pilgrimage to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to see the magnificent Klimt paintings that were restored to the family following a decades-long legal battle for restitution after the Nazis’ theft.
Thank you so much!
You’re welcome. We need an antidote to the drear, gloom and tawdriness of politics. I grew up in Glasgow and Rennie McIntosh was everywhere. The Art School, various houses and there were repro McIntosh stained glass and carvings in many houses built at a later date as well.
Great write up Marjorie thank you. There’s probably a good film to be made about the dynamic between them. Miss Cranston used to employ “fallen” women ie single mums and house train and employ them. Artistically and socially it was a magical troika of genius and the Tea Room today is a testament to that
Extraordinary – she looks so respectable and yet she had that Uranus Pluto – a definite mover and shaker
Inspiring artists, all of them, each in their own way. Thank you Marjorie.
Here is Catherine Cranston’s rectified chart….enlarge with floating magnifier.
https://ibb.co/Qv8hV9x1