To me, the question of precocity vs. late blooming can be summed up thusly: 1) The 70-year lifespan is a recent development. Producing great work in one's 20s

To me, the question of precocity vs. late blooming can be summed up thusly: 1) The 70-year lifespan is a recent development. Producing great work in one's 20s and 30s was a necessity because one's 40s and 50s weren't guaranteed. Social inertia took over from there. 2) The young also have greater marketability (looks, energy) and can usually be controlled more easily. This makes them more attractive to backers. This matters a lot in many fields, but in the arts especially, where the artist receives as much attention as their art.