A Life of Engineering and Art
Thomas Craskell was a British engineer and painter who was active in Jamaica during the eighteenth century. His professional life was marked by his role as a military engineer; he served as a lieutenant in the Engineer Corps during the invasions of Martinique and Guadeloupe in early 1759 under Major-General Peregrine Hopson. Beyond his military and engineering pursuits, Craskell was a marine painter whose work was characterized by a precise rendering of naval sails and rigging. His career in maritime art saw him working alongside Peter Monamy and Samuel Scott during the mid-eighteenth century.
In addition to his artistic and military endeavors, Craskell was involved in significant cartographic work. From 1756 to 1761, he worked with James Simpson to conduct a survey of Jamaica, a project that resulted in three maps which could be combined to create an overall map. Furthermore, in 1758, he began the supervision of the King's House in Spanish Town.
Known Works and Legacy
There are only four known works by Thomas Craskell. His surviving paintings include:
Craskell died in 1790. His son, also named Thomas Craskell, served as a captain in the army and was appointed as the superintendent general of the Maroons, succeeding Major John James.
Questions & Answers
Is there a 3D virtual tour of Thomas Craskell's works?
The 3D Museum of Thomas Craskell is a page that displays the artist's artworks in a virtual three-dimensional gallery.
How can I see every artwork made by Thomas Craskell?
Every work by Thomas Craskell on this website can be browsed from the artist's All Artworks page.
How is Thomas Craskell's career divided into periods?
Thomas Craskell's career unfolds period by period on the artist's Chronicle page: a horizontal timeline of the artworks, grouped into career-period chapters.
Is there a timeline of Thomas Craskell's works?
A timeline of Thomas Craskell's works exists: the artist's Artwork Timeline page orders the artworks by creation date.
