How realistic is the setting for this painting? It has been compared to a stage or film set; how true do you think this is and why? What kind of person do you think Chatterton was? How do the details in the painting contribute to an understanding of his character and personality?

KS 2-3

Act out or write a short play about Chatterton’s last days, explaining why he has decided to end his life

KS 3-4

Do you think Chatterton has become an icon of tortured artistic genius? Do you know of any other artists, musicians or famous figures who have committed suicide?

KS5

How does Henry Wallis’s view of the poet compare with our view of artists or poets today? Do you think contemporary artists face the same struggles and difficulties or do they live very different lives now?