A Life of Lines and Light
Alexander Kastman entered the world in Kalmar on 1 October 1723. Born to Eric Kastman, a merchant, and Augusta Johanna Eichwürzel, his early years were rooted in the coastal life of Sweden. He eventually moved toward the academic atmosphere of Uppsala University, enrolling as a student in 1743. It was during this period that he began to find his footing as an artist, studying under Philip Jacob Thelott the Younger. When his teacher fell ill, Kastman stepped into his role, a transition that likely deepened his connection to the technical demands of the craft.
His path was not one of easy comforts. After his time in Uppsala, he returned to Kalmar to teach drawing to officers and cadets at the fortification. Later, around 1754, he moved to Lund. For twelve years, he served as an academy master at Lund University without receiving a salary, a period that forced him to rely heavily on private commissions to sustain himself and his wife, Catarina Be Beata Sommar.
The Precision of the Engraver
Kastman was a man of many technical skills. While he worked as a painter, much of his legacy is found in the fine, precise work of a copper engraver and draftsman. He possessed a keen eye for detail that made him a valuable collaborator for the great scientific minds of his era. On the recommendation of Thelott, he undertook illustration work for Carl von Linné and Johan Ihre, translating the complexities of the natural world into clear, reproducible images.
His hands were equally adept at capturing architecture and local landscapes. His body of work includes:
- Copper engravings of the cathedral featured in Gustaf Sommelius's dissertation, de Templo Catedrali Lundensi.
- Sixteen concept drawings of Scanian manors and churches, which are now held at the Royal Library in Stockholm.
- An altar painting created for Kalmar Slottskyrka during the summer of 1758.
- A portrait of Bishop Rydelius.
Final Years in Lund
In 1761, Kastman attained the degree of philosophiæ et graphices magister from Greifswald. Though he used this title to define his professional identity, the degree was purchased, reflecting the practicalities of academic life in the eighteenth century. He remained a fixture in the intellectual and artistic circles of Lund, even as he navigated the financial uncertainties of an unpaid academy master.
His life came to an end in Lund on 28 December 1782. He was laid to rest in Lund Cathedral, leaving behind a collection of works that documented the churches, estates, and people of his Swedish homeland with quiet, steady accuracy.
