Matthew Craske

Dr Matthew Craske is a Reader in History of Art at Oxford Brookes University, where he has been a faculty member since January 2005. He is affiliated with the School of Education, Humanities and Languages, contributing to the History of Art program with expertise in eighteenth and nineteenth-century British art.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in History of Art from University College London (1992), with thesis titled 'The London trade in monumental sculpture and the imagery of the family in monumental art, 1720-1760'

Dr Craske's research spans multiple interconnected areas within eighteenth and early nineteenth-century British art history. His work examines sporting art, the representation of servants, sculpture, the relationship between art and literature, the marble trade, the business of art, and interior decoration. His current major project involves writing a book on the literary paintings of Joseph Wright of Derby, revealing how visual and textual narratives intersected during this period. His scholarship demonstrates a consistent focus on how art functioned within social, economic, and political contexts of Georgian Britain.

Dr Craske's publications reveal a thematic focus on the intersection of art, commerce, and social structures, particularly in the representation of domestic spaces, monumental sculpture, and the economics of artistic production. His work often challenges conventional interpretations of eighteenth-century visual culture by revealing the complex relationships between artistic production and broader societal frameworks.

Dr Craske's scholarly excellence has been recognized through prestigious fellowships:

• Fellowship at Churchill College, Cambridge (1995-1998)
• Henry Moore Centre Fellow at Leeds (1998)
• Henry Moore Foundation Fellow (1998-2000)
• Leverhulme Fellow of the National Portrait Gallery (2001-2002)
• Paul Mellon Centre Senior Fellowship (2012)
• Visiting Professor at Yale University (2012)

At Oxford Brookes, Dr Craske teaches across the History of Art undergraduate program, including Advanced Seminars in History of Art (3rd year), Field Work in Art History (2nd year), Themes in Eighteenth and Nineteenth-Century European Art (2nd year), Art in Oxford (1st year), and Museums and Society (1st year). His teaching reflects his research expertise while providing students with opportunities to engage with art in its physical contexts, emphasizing experiential learning in art historical practice.