It is no great secret that the English were the rulers of much
of Jamaica’s wealth, having colonized the island from 1655-1962.
As they dominated everything so they dominated art in the
island. During the years of English rule many artistes were
commission to paint portraits of planters and their families,
some of these artistes did landscape paintings as well. These
paintings gave their viewers a romantic perspective of this
sugar colony, painting an ideal if not glorious picture of sugar
estates. Foremost among these artistes that came are James
Hakewell and Joseph Bartholomew (J.B.) Kidd, both painters have
created picturesque views of Jamaica from Kingston to Montego
bay. There is however no mention of works of art produced by any
of the African slaves. It would be a great injustice to speak of
British art in Jamaica and not mention Isaac Mendez Belasario, a
man whose work is still being admired by many. As recently as
December 2007 the Yale Center for British Art, Yale University
held an exhibition which