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The Life and Works of John Cooke Bourne
Timeline - the Life of John Cooke Bourne (1814-1896)
1814
Born at 19 Lamb’s Conduit Street, London.
1836
First drawings of the London & Birmingham Railway.
According to the writer John Britton (1771 - 1857) these images were intended to be "subjects of professional study, as scenes and compositions replete with picturesque effect and artistic character". At first without any idea of publication, Bourne began to make "scenes and compositions" of the development of the railways, which Charles Dickens critically described as unintelligible as any dream.
1838
First part of the London & Birmingham Railway book published.
With eight drawings in paper covers titled "A Series of Lithographed Drawings on the London & Birmingham Railway". It was published at Lamb’s on Conduit Street by Bourne jointly with Ackerman. Each part cost £1 1s 0d.
Second part of the London & Birmingham Railway book published.
1839
Third and Fourth parts of the London & Birmingham Railway book published together.
With topographical and descriptive text by Britton.
Shortly after this, all four were produced in one volume with the shortened title "Drawings of the London & Birmingham Railway".
1840
Lithograph produced, titled, "Viaduct over the Valley of the Weaver, Chester & Crewe Railway" on stone by John Cooke Bourne. Artist G Pickering. Published by Evans, Ducker, Chester and Cheffins.
1846
"The History and Description of the Great Western Railway" published.
Published by David Bogue, Fleet Street, in 1846, but produced entirely under the direction of Cheffins, who also financed the whole venture. George Clark, who had been one of Brunel’s engineers on the work, wrote the text. Plates were produced by Bourne.
1847
Produced watercolour of Dnieper Bridge, Kiev, Russia for Vignoles.
1848
Provides lithography for Edward Pett Thomson's book, "Life in Russia". Plates are signed "I.C. Bourne Lith".
"A Sketch of the Origin and Progress of Steam Navigation" is published.
Published in which some half dozen illustrations, drawn by Bourne and lithographed by C Cheffins, accompanied a text by Bennet Woodcroft. Book published by Taylor and Walton, publishers to the University College, 28 Upper Gower Street, Bedford Square.
He then spent several years in Russia producing sketches and photographs.
1866
Married Catherine Cripps aged 25, daughter of an official at Buckingham Palace. They settled down in Teddington.
"He devoted the rest of his life to photography and the production of watercolours and oil paintings, some of them elaborately worked up from studies made in Russia".
1896
Died in Brentford. His only obituary is the laconic description on his death certificate "Artist - (painter)".