Charles Thurston Thompson

Thompson worked as a wood engraver until the 1840s, at which time he took up photography. Most of Thompson's work in photography was done for the Department of Science and Art, London. Thompson acted as the official photographer for the South Kensington Museum in London from 1857 to 1867, during which time he trained military engineers in photography so they could document engineering projects and report events throughout the empire to the War Department. In 1858, Thompson photographed the Raphael Cartoons in the collection of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, for use in art schools.