Benjamin Robert Haydon

Of English Romantic painter Benjamin Robert Haydon to the art of the 19th century and evaluates his influence on John Ruskin’s social concepts of art during the same era.

Analysis of His Influence on John Ruskin’s Social Concepts of Art

Analysis of His Influence on John Ruskin’s Social Concepts of Art

Evaluating an artist’s influence on his contemporaries, the era in which he lived and posterity, it is first of all important to examine and understand what influences were brought to bear upon him. This is particularly true in his formative years, for they provide the foundation of his philosophy as well as playing a major role in the development of his talent. In this context, it is useful to examine the social and cultural environment of an artist’s formative years, as well as the circumstances of family and education that shape him. Benjamin Robert Haydon, painter and diarist, lived a life of drama, frustration and opposition to the establishment. Constantly fighting for recognition and arguing for the social purpose of art, Haydon’s talents fell far short of his ambitions. As Haydon wrote: “The great difficulty is first to win a reputation; the next to keep it while you live; and the next to preserve it after you die – when affection and interest are over, and nothing but the sterling excellence can preserve your name” (Immorta

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hich he recorded his perpetual frustrations and anger at society. He also recorded his moments of exaltation, his reflections upon the nature of his ‘genius’, and his social reputation. One of Haydon’s most famous passages was his account of his “Immortal Dinner” on December 28th, 1817, attended by many of his famous friends (Hughes-Hallett PAGE #). Fondly recalling the evening of companionship with some of the most gifted men of the 19th century, Haydon recorded for posterity in his diary that, “on December 28th the immortal dinner came off in my painting-room, with Jerusalem towering up behind us as a background.” He recalled that, “Wordsworth was in fine cue, and we had a glorious set-to—on Homer, Shakespeare, Milton and Virgil. Lamb got exceedingly merry and exquisitely witty; and his fun in the midst of Wordsworth’s solemn intonations of oratory was like the sarcasm and wit of the fool in the intervals of Lear’s passion” (Haydon PAGE #). Haydon’s talent for writing often receives higher praise than his paintings or lectures, for his descriptions of the personalities of contemporary figures such as Wordsworth and Keats provide a keen and revealing insight into 19th century artistic culture. Those critics, biographers,
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Approximate Word count = 5582
Approximate Pages = 22 (250 words per page)

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