52 Weeks of Inspiring Illustrations, Week 34: ‘10,000 paintings of St Andrews’ — John N. Bonthron’s sketchbook

speccoll
Monday 11 February 2013
From the sketchbook of John N. Bonthron, depicting his bedroom on South Street and a sketch of the coat of arms of St Andrews found in the City Council Chambers (ms38539)
From the sketchbook of John N. Bonthron, possibly depicting his bedroom and a sketch of the coat of arms of St Andrews found in the City Council Chambers (ms38539)
The front cover of Bonthron's sketchbook (ms38539)
The front cover of Bonthron’s sketchbook (ms38539)

This small sketchbook of around 100 watercolour sketches of St Andrews scenes represents just a tiny fraction of the artistic output of its creator, John Nicol Bonthron. He is thought to have produced around 10,000 miniature pictures of his home town in his 81 years. The sketchbook contains the originals, which he reproduced in miniature, as many as 50 or a 100 on a single sheet of paper, and sold or sent around the world to those with an interest in St Andrews.

'St. Regulus' Tower' from John N. Bonthron's sketchbook, with the artist's copious notes (ms38539)
‘St. Regulus’ Tower’ from John N. Bonthron’s sketchbook, with the artist’s copious notes (ms38539)
'65 South St' depicted by Bonthron in the early 20th century (above) and photographed in 1972, when it was still a draper’s shop; it is now part of the Department of Mediaeval History.
’65 South St’ depicted by Bonthron in the early 20th century (above) and photographed in 1972, when it was still a draper’s shop; it is now part of the Department of Mediaeval History.

John was born on 27 November 1854 at 65 South Street where his father Robert ran a successful draper’s business. The Bonthron family were originally fishermen in Wemyss and Buckhaven. We have a letter written in 1837 by the Commissioners of the Herring Industry to Thomas and Robert Bonthron of Buckhaven – probably his father and uncle. Robert moved to St Andrews in the 1840s, settling first in Baker’s Lane as a clothier, then opening the draper’s shop in South Street in 1849. He was elected a baillie of the town in 1858 and appears in town council minutes (B65/11/14) and in burgh court actions. He acted as trustee for fellow businessmen, including Benjamin Evans at the Cross Keys Hotel, and it may have been this generosity that forced him into bankruptcy in 1874. Thereafter he was a commercial traveller for other drapery businesses.

'West Port'
‘West Port’ from John N. Bonthron’s sketchbook, with the artist’s notes (ms38539)
'The Upper Harbour'
‘The Upper Harbour’ from John N. Bonthron’s sketchbook (ms38539)

Robert had married Janet Nicol in 1853 and John was the eldest of a family of 6. He trained as a draughtsman by profession, and sketched as a hobby:

“I started it before penny postcards became popular. I went about the town for a bit, drawing and sketching, and in the end had a book with over a hundred drawings and paintings of various parts of the town”

(‘Painted 10,000 pictures of St Andrews’ from The Peoples Journal, 19 January 1935.)

'Old University Library'
‘Old University Library’ from John N. Bonthron’s sketchbook (ms38539)
'St Andrews, from the top of St. Rule's Tower'
‘St Andrews, from the top of St. Rule’s Tower’ from John N. Bonthron’s sketchbook (ms38539)
'The Baths'
‘The Baths’ from John N. Bonthron’s sketchbook (ms38539)

The sketchbook includes views of St Andrews, the harbour, the cathedral, the castle, Pends, towers in the Abbey wall, Madras College, university buildings, churches, golf course, and the coastline. He added notes on the history of buildings in St Andrews opposite the sketches. There is an index of the paintings at back. Possibly the bedroom drawn inside the front cover may be John’s own room. His other talents were for engraving, particularly engraving The Lord’s Prayer onto a threepenny piece, and for meticulous drawings of Willow Pattern china, followed by a description of the story which was unfolding on each cup and saucer. The St Andrews Preservation Trust holds other works by Bonthron.

'North Street'
‘North Street’ from John N. Bonthron’s sketchbook (ms38539)
'Cathedral, West Front'
‘Cathedral, West Front’ from John N. Bonthron’s sketchbook (ms38539)
'St Andrews from the West'
‘St Andrews from the West’ from John N. Bonthron’s sketchbook (ms38539)

He spent his last years in Gibson House, Argyle Street, and died on 12 December 1935.

MS

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4 thoughts on "52 Weeks of Inspiring Illustrations, Week 34: ‘10,000 paintings of St Andrews’ — John N. Bonthron’s sketchbook"

  • Shane Johnson
    Shane Johnson
    Wednesday 30 October 2013, 2.36am

    Hello, I have an antique shop in Tasmania and a picture by John Bonthron. It is titled 30 Views Here and There St. Andrews. Let me know if you would like a pic emailed. Regards Shane Johnson

    Reply
    • St Andrews Special Collections
      St Andrews Special Collections
      Friday 8 November 2013, 1.04pm

      Hi there, the picture sounds intriguing. We would love to hear more about it. Our email address is [email protected].

      Reply
      • Lynn Henni
        Lynn Henni
        Thursday 24 November 2022, 10.54am

        I also have a 30 Views, Here and There in St Andrews as has my mother. Both of ours have family connections with my great grandparents' house in Market Street in mine and some other family connection in my mother's. I was never sure if those were included seliberately, perhaps as a commission.

        Reply
  • Moira Baxter
    Moira Baxter
    Saturday 21 May 2022, 9.47pm

    I have an original watercolour of St Andrews Castle by an RS Bonthron, purchased from St Andrews Fine Arts about 30 years ago. Perhaps related to the above? It would be nice to find out. I would also like to sell on the painting.

    Reply

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