George Edward Bonsor Saint Martin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Edward Bonsor
Jorge Bonsor |
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| Born |
George Edward Bonsor
30 March 1855 |
| Died | 15 August 1930 |
| Alma mater | Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts, Brussels |
| Occupation | Archaeologist Painter Pre-historian Author |
| Spouse(s) | Gracia Sánchez Trigueros y Dolores Simó |
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George Edward Bonsor Saint Martin (born March 30, 1855 – died August 1930) was a British historian, painter, and archaeologist. He was born in France but had British parents. George Bonsor is famous for finding and studying many important ancient sites in Spain.
Some of his discoveries include:
- An old burial ground (necropolis) and a Roman theater (amphitheater) in Carmona.
- Parts of the ancient Roman town of Baelo Claudia in Cádiz.
- The Setefilla archaeological area in Lora del Río.
He also strongly believed in protecting these historical places.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
George Edward Bonsor was born on March 30, 1855, in Lille, France. His father, James Bonsor, was an engineer from Nottingham, England. George's mother, Pauline Marie Leonie Saint Martin Ghislaine, was from Lille. She passed away when George was very young.
After his mother's death, George was cared for by his aunt and uncle, John and Louise Marie Batley. They lived in a large house called Seaborough Court in Seaborough, England. George also spent time with his mother's family in northern France. He lived in both England and France while his father traveled for business.
Education and Artistic Training
George's family was quite wealthy, which meant he received a good education. He learned to speak both English and French very well as a teenager. Later, he also became fluent in Spanish.
As a young man, George traveled with his father across Europe. He attended different schools in various countries, including:
- The "Athénée" school in Tournai, Belgium.
- A "German college" in Moscow, Russia.
- Two high schools (lycées) in Albi and Montauban, France.
- A school in Huddersfield, England.
This constant travel made him very curious and observant. It also gave him a great love for geography and learning.
Later, George became interested in art. In the late 1870s, he studied at art academies in London and Brussels. While in Brussels, he reportedly won a prize for his "archaeological technical drawing." This skill became very useful when he decided to become an archaeologist.
George Bonsor was one of the first archaeologists to use detailed technical drawings to record his discoveries. He believed it was very important to draw everything found during a dig. He once said it was "a crime" to dig without making detailed drawings. He also used photographs to document his work, often taken by Ramón Pinzón or Augusto Pérez Romero.
Even though he was born in France, George always considered himself British. However, he usually wrote his articles and documents in French or Spanish, rarely in English. In 1922, he explained that he grew up in Belgium and came to Spain as a young man to paint. But he soon fell in love with archaeology instead.
Moving to Spain
After finishing his art studies, George Bonsor traveled to southern Europe. He wanted to learn more about Spanish art and improve his painting style. His early paintings focused on people and everyday scenes. His family sent him money to support his travels.
Exploring Spain as a Tourist
George kept detailed diaries of his trip to Spain. He recorded everything he saw and how much he spent. He traveled with a friend named Paulus, who he knew from the Beaux-Arts Academy in Brussels.
Their first stop was Burgos. There, they met a local named Primitivo Carcedo, who showed them around. They visited the amazing Burgos Cathedral and the Miraflores Charterhouse. Carcedo also helped them practice their Spanish.
Next, they went to Madrid. They visited the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando and saw famous paintings. They also spent time at the Prado Museum, where they copied paintings to learn from the masters. Interestingly, George wrote in his diary that the National Archaeological Museum "bored him supremely" at first!
Their journey continued to Toledo. George loved Toledo right away, saying, "The city of Toledo I liked enormously... I see that there are many things that I have to paint here." He was fascinated by the street beggars, gypsies, and priests. He also wrote detailed descriptions of historical buildings and crafts.
George then visited Córdoba for one night. He saw the city walls, the old Roman bridge, and the incredible Mezquita-catedral.
His first visit to Seville was a bit disappointing for him. He didn't find much he wanted to paint there. He visited the Seville Cathedral to see paintings by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. He also went to the provincial museum and the Hospital de la Caridad. While he respected Seville's old art, he wasn't impressed by the artists living there at the time.
Based on a recommendation from his father, George decided to visit Carmona in 1881. Carmona is a town in the hills not far from Seville.
Life in Carmona
George Bonsor's first visit to Carmona lasted only four days. He spent his time finding and sketching scenes he wanted to paint later. After exploring the town, he left for Gibraltar to meet his aunt, uncle, and cousin. They toured Málaga, Granada, and Seville together. George then returned to Carmona on March 4, 1881.
A few weeks later, he was back in Gibraltar, where he met his friend Paulus again. They took an unplanned trip to Tangier, Morocco, from May 7 to 17, 1881. After that, George returned to Carmona and stayed there for the next nine months.
George loved watching and painting the daily life of the people in Carmona. Much of life revolved around the church. He often added funny notes to his paintings. He once wrote, "The poor Spanish beggars are numerous, cheerful, and heavy smokers. When I paint, the poor blind folks passing by always come across to evaluate what I am doing with an expert eye!"
During Holy Week in 1881, George painted a detailed picture of the Carmona Procession of St. James. He wrote in his diary about watching the procession from his balcony. He noticed some girls on the opposite balcony who started giggling when they saw him, calling him "the foreigner" and "the painter."
George became well-liked in Carmona and was known as "the English painter." People would stop to comment on his paintings, like "How beautifully painted that lamp is." He even got a job from a local priest, Father José Barrera, to paint a portrait of the town's vicar. George was paid four "duros" (an old Spanish coin) for his materials. He was happy, noting in his diary, "See how in Spain today it is only the priests who encourage painters."
Another local event George enjoyed was the toro de cuerda. This is an old tradition involving bulls, different from bullfighting, but still exciting and a bit risky for the young men involved.
See also
In Spanish: Jorge Bonsor para niños
