Eric de Maré
Encyclopedia
Eric de Maré was a British photographer and author, described as one of the greatest British architectural photographers.
de Maré was born in London on the 10 September 1910, of Swedish parents, Bror and Ingrid de Maré. He was educated at St Paul’s School in London before becoming a student of the Architectural Association in 1928. Following graduation in 1933, he went to Scandinavia to travel and work. A number of his later publications focus on Sweden. He was a supporter of the Social Credit
movement.
On returning to England, he joined the Architectural Press and became the acting editor of the Architects Journal
, in 1943. In 1942, de Maré had published his first book, titled Britain Rebuilt. The subsequent years saw the publication of further books and articles within the architectural press. Many of the subjects covered in these works are represented within the collection held by the National Monuments Record, the public archive of English Heritage
.
Canals and waterways feature significantly in de Maré’s work. In 1948, he boated a dozen of the English canals during a 600 mile tour, photographing the landscapes, buildings and people he encountered. This journey resulted in a 1949 article for the Architectural Review documenting canal life and buildings. The following year saw the publication of The Canals of England. The book provided an historical and technical description of inland waterways punctuated by de Maré’s photography.
In 1956, he was commissioned to travel throughout England to photograph early industrial sites and buildings. The resulting images were combined with JM Richard’s text in The Functional Tradition in Early Industrial Buildings, which was published by the Architectural Press in 1958. The functional tradition within architecture had received little attention from contemporary architects until this study, but the work coincided with and promoted an increased interest in the qualities of early industrial structures. His work in the 1960s reflected the other end of the industrial spectrum, focussing on modern power generation plants, to which his photographs frequently conferred a sculptural quality.
De Maré died on 22 January 2002, aged 91. The Guardian said that to most architects and architectural historians he was the finest architectural photographer of the mid-20th century. The Telegraph described him as one of the most notable photographers of his time, as well as a prolific author.
de Maré was born in London on the 10 September 1910, of Swedish parents, Bror and Ingrid de Maré. He was educated at St Paul’s School in London before becoming a student of the Architectural Association in 1928. Following graduation in 1933, he went to Scandinavia to travel and work. A number of his later publications focus on Sweden. He was a supporter of the Social Credit
Social Credit
Social Credit is an economic philosophy developed by C. H. Douglas , a British engineer, who wrote a book by that name in 1924. Social Credit is described by Douglas as "the policy of a philosophy"; he called his philosophy "practical Christianity"...
movement.
On returning to England, he joined the Architectural Press and became the acting editor of the Architects Journal
Architects Journal
The Architects' Journal is a weekly architectural magazine published in London by Emap. The first edition was produced in 1896. Commonly referred to by architects as the AJ, its articles cover matters of more immediate interest than its sister publication the Architectural Review...
, in 1943. In 1942, de Maré had published his first book, titled Britain Rebuilt. The subsequent years saw the publication of further books and articles within the architectural press. Many of the subjects covered in these works are represented within the collection held by the National Monuments Record, the public archive of English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
.
Canals and waterways feature significantly in de Maré’s work. In 1948, he boated a dozen of the English canals during a 600 mile tour, photographing the landscapes, buildings and people he encountered. This journey resulted in a 1949 article for the Architectural Review documenting canal life and buildings. The following year saw the publication of The Canals of England. The book provided an historical and technical description of inland waterways punctuated by de Maré’s photography.
In 1956, he was commissioned to travel throughout England to photograph early industrial sites and buildings. The resulting images were combined with JM Richard’s text in The Functional Tradition in Early Industrial Buildings, which was published by the Architectural Press in 1958. The functional tradition within architecture had received little attention from contemporary architects until this study, but the work coincided with and promoted an increased interest in the qualities of early industrial structures. His work in the 1960s reflected the other end of the industrial spectrum, focussing on modern power generation plants, to which his photographs frequently conferred a sculptural quality.
De Maré died on 22 January 2002, aged 91. The Guardian said that to most architects and architectural historians he was the finest architectural photographer of the mid-20th century. The Telegraph described him as one of the most notable photographers of his time, as well as a prolific author.
Books
- Eric de Maré, The Canals of England (1950, 1987, ISBN 9781848681606, ISBN 0862994187)
- Eric de Maré, Bridges of Britain (1954, 1975, 1987, ISBN 0713429259)
- Eric de Maré, London's Riverside (1958)
- Eric de Maré, City of Westnminster; Heart of London (1968)
- Eric de Maré, Photography (1957) Penguin books
- Eric de Maré, Photography and Architecture (1961) Penguin books
- Eric de Maré, Architectural Photography (1975) Penguin books
- Eric de Maré, Wren's London (1975) ISBN 0718115864
- Eric de Maré, A Matter of Life or Debt (1983) ISBN 0949667838
- Higgott, Andrew, Eric de Maré : Photographer, Builder with Light. London : AA Publications, 1990. ISBN 1870890280
- Elwall, Robert, Eric De Mare. London : RIBA Publishing, 2000. ISBN 9781859460832
External links
- Photographs by Eric de Maré held by the National Monuments Record, the public archive of English HeritageEnglish HeritageEnglish Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
. - Glancey, Jonathan. "Eric de Maré's secret country". The Guardian, 16 November 2010.
- Hodgson, Francis. "Eric de Mare at RIBA, London." Financial Times (London), October 13 2010.