painter and convict, came to Sydney in January 1812 in the Guildford , having been sentenced to seven years’ transportation. On 10 August 1813 he received his ticket of leave. Thirteen months later he absconded, but was soon recaptured and sent to Van Diemen’s Land. In August 1814, while on the way to Hobart Town from Launceston under guard, Craig and three other prisoners were 'rescued’ by the infamous Michael Howe and his gang of bushrangers. When he realised that the bushrangers planned to revenge themselves upon the two military escorts, Craig freed the soldiers and accompanied them to Hobart Town. The authorities rewarded him by allowing him to paint, providing him with paper and drawing materials.
Craig presented the results of his labours—a series of watercolour views of Launceston and Hobart Town—to Lieutenant-Governor Davey in 1815. Table Mountain and Part of the Harbour and Town of Hobart in Van Dieman’s [sic] Land , the only surviving example (ML), is inscribed 'to his Honor Lieut. Governor Davey and the officers and Gentlemen of that Settlement’. A note on the back of the mount states that it was later owned by Dr James Scott (father of Lachlina ), the colonial surgeon to whom William Buelow Gould was assigned in 1838. When shown at the 'Old Hobart’ exhibition in 1896 it was in J.B. Walker’s possession.
This primitive sketch is obviously the work of a naive painter. Craig views his subject with the eye of a miniaturist and every detail is accordingly rendered with the utmost care. Nothing further is known about the artist.
- Writers:
- Hackforth-Jones, Jocelyn
- Date written:
- 1992
- Last updated:
- 2011
