In this episode, Philip investigates a father-son relationship between bohemian artist Augustus John and his son Robin John. Robin John (1904-1988) was the third son of Augustus John and his first wife Ida Nettleship (1877-1907). The two had a difficult relationship, Robin's silences often infuriated John, who declared his son 'hardly utters a word and radiates hostility'. Robin recollected; 'I'm sure he [Augustus] regretted our inability - as I did - to achieve a friendly and easy relationship. But the main obstacle was that he - fundamentally - was a rebel against established society and most conventions, while I hated Bohemianism and yearned for a normal life - which made me in turn also a rebel - but in reverse'.
In this episode, Philip investigates a father-son relationship between bohemian artist Augustus John and his son Robin John. Robin John (1904-1988) was the third son of Augustus John and his first wife Ida Nettleship (1877-1907). The two had a difficult relationship, Robin's silences often infuriated John, who declared his son 'hardly utters a word and radiates hostility'. Robin recollected; 'I'm sure he [Augustus] regretted our inability - as I did - to achieve a friendly and easy relationship. But the main obstacle was that he - fundamentally - was a rebel against established society and most conventions, while I hated Bohemianism and yearned for a normal life - which made me in turn also a rebel - but in reverse'.
