Bonington Author:Aubrey Noakes In 1830 John Constable felt it necessary to write to a friend to say he did him an injustice:"in supposing I despise poor Bonington (sic). ... but there is a moral feeling in Art as well as everything else ... it is not right in a young man to assume great dash-great completion'-without study 'or pain'- ‘labour with genius'-is the price the Go... more »ds have set upon excellence." Richard Parkes Bonington presents us with the phenomenon of a young man, who not only began to sell his work, but even to become overwhelmed with commissions when still a student. Indeed, he never did complete his formal studies, since his instructor
Baron Gros, told him, goodnaturedly, that he was wasting his time in his atelier and should henceforth marcher seul-go it alone.
But Bonington’s health deserted him suddenly and disconcertingly-it was found he had consumption (TB), to which there was no effective cure and so he found himself in the agonising position of having stacks of commissions on hand and the prospect of plenty more to come, yet bereft of the strength and drive to carry them out. He died just before his twentysixth birthday, his career as an artist lasting a mere eight or nine years.« less