early life, conviction, and the path to art charles henry theodore costantini, a paris-born surgeon of italian descent, led a life marked by turmoil and eventual redemption through art. born in 1803, costantini's early years were not indicative of the artistic talent he would later exhibit. in 1822, he was tried and found guilty of larceny in a dwelling house at the old bailey, london, leading to his transportation to the australian penal colony not once, but twice. redemption through art following his tumultuous past, costantini discovered solace in art, becoming a notable figure in australi…