Alexander Carse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander Carse
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Self-portrait, 1811, oil on steel
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| Born | c. 1770 Innerwick, East Lothian, Scotland
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| Died | February 1843 (aged 72–73) |
| Children | William Carse, James Howe Carse |
Alexander Carse (around 1770 – February 1843) was a Scottish artist. He was famous for painting everyday scenes of life in Scotland. Some of his most well-known works include a huge painting of King George IV visiting Leith. He also painted three of the earliest pictures of football games ever made!
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Life of Alexander Carse
Alexander Carse was born in a place called Innerwick in East Lothian, Scotland. He was born to William and Catherine Carse and was baptised in early 1770.
Early Art Training
In 1801, Carse began studying at the Trustees Drawing Academy of Edinburgh. Here, he learned about Dutch painting. This style really influenced how he painted indoor scenes later on. His teacher, David Allan, also had a big impact on his early art.
By 1808, a Scottish historian named the 11th Earl of Buchan called Carse the best painter of village scenes.
In 1795, Carse painted a group picture of himself. People believe it also shows his mother and sister. The painting shows a painter's room, with his mother reading the Bible to her two grown-up children. This artwork is now part of the National Galleries of Scotland collection.
When he was in his early thirties, Carse started showing his paintings in London. He exhibited his work at the Royal Academy and the British Institution.
Moving to London
In 1812, Carse moved to London. That same year, he showed a painting called Country Relations, which many consider one of his best. For the next eight years, he worked hard to become as famous as another artist, David Wilkie.
In 1819, both Carse and Wilkie painted their own versions of a scene called Penny Wedding. A Penny Wedding was a Scottish tradition where guests paid for the wedding. The extra money helped the new couple set up their home. Both paintings were shown, but Wilkie's painting was sold to the Prince Regent. Even though Carse tried to paint in Wilkie's style, his art business didn't do well. So, Carse moved back to Scotland.
Famous Paintings
One of Carse's biggest and most detailed paintings shows the royal visit by King George IV to Leith in 1822. This was a rare visit by a king to Scotland. Sir Walter Scott helped arrange the whole event. The painting is about 5 feet by 11 feet (1.5 by 3.3 meters). It shows hundreds of people and many detailed portraits.
From 1810, Carse also created three paintings of football matches. These are thought to be some of the earliest pictures ever made that show the game of football.
Family and Later Life
Alexander Carse is believed to have had two sons, and both of them became painters too. Their names were William Carse and James Howe Carse. William worked in Scotland, while James moved to South Australia.
In the 1830s, records show "Alexander Carse, portrait painter" living at 68 Abbey Hill in Edinburgh. This area is just north-east of Holyrood Palace. Carse died in poverty in February 1843. The exact place and date of his death are not known.
Carse's Legacy
Many of Alexander Carse's paintings can be found in public art collections. You can see his works in cities like Dundee, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.
