James Howe Carse facts for kids

James Howe Carse (born around 1819, died 1900) was a talented British Australian artist. He was an oil painter who specialized in landscapes, which are paintings of natural scenery. James Carse was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, into a family of artists. He showed his paintings in the United Kingdom and even won a gold medal in Chicago. People in the colony of New South Wales in Australia thought he was the "best painter" there.

Early Life and Art Training

James Carse was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, around 1819. His father, Alexander Carse, was a well-known painter of Scottish scenes. It's believed James was named after James Howe, another Scottish artist who painted animals.

James's older brother, William Carse, studied art at the Royal Academy in London. James, however, went to the newer Royal Scottish Academy. His father was one of the founding members of this academy. James Carse started showing his paintings in London in the early 1860s. These paintings often showed beautiful scenes from Scotland and England. Some of his artworks from this time include views around the towns of Bolton and Oldham.

Oldham from Glodwick, a painting by James Howe Carse.

In 1866, James Carse achieved a big success. He won a gold medal at the Intercolonial Exhibition held in Chicago, USA. This was a major award for his artwork.

Adventures in Australia: Adelaide (1867–1868)

James Carse traveled to Australia in 1867, arriving in Adelaide, South Australia. During his first year in Australia, he spent some time exploring. He created a watercolor drawing of the Kapunda copper mines, which he dated to 1867. For a while, he didn't focus much on his art.

Painting in Melbourne (1868–1870)

In August 1868, James Carse began to show his art in Melbourne, Australia. He displayed his first works at the Museum of Art. These paintings included landscapes of the Campaspe and Mile Creek, and a view of Melbourne from the Botanical Gardens. He also painted scenes of Australian bush life. By September 1868, Carse started taking special requests for animal and landscape paintings from his studio in Melbourne.

By March 1869, six of Carse's paintings were on display in a shop in Melbourne. These included scenes of Coliban Falls, Mount Beckwith, and Mile Creek. In November 1869, he created two new paintings inspired by the landscapes of Talbot country, Victoria. One showed Middle Creek near Clunes, and the other was a swamp in the same area.

Old Gum Tree at Riddells Creek, painted around 1870.

Late in 1869, Carse went on a special trip to the countryside to find new ideas for his art. He returned with two oil paintings and many sketches. These new works were shown at Hines Gallery in Melbourne by January 1870. The two paintings were titled Riddell's Creek Falls and Evening at Riddell's Creek. Another painting from 1869, A River Ferry Crossing, is also credited to him. In December 1870, Carse contributed several of his paintings to an art exhibition in Melbourne.

Exploring Queensland (1869–1870)

It seems that James Carse also traveled to Queensland between 1869 and 1870. During this time, he painted several important landscapes. These included views of Gladstone, Queensland, New Zealand Gully, near Rockhampton, Queensland, and Townsville, Queensland.

Success in Sydney (1871–1900)

By January 1871, James Carse had moved from Melbourne to Sydney, where he set up his studio on George Street. In March 1872, he showed his painting Weatherboard Waterfalls at the first exhibition of colonial artworks in Sydney. He received a certificate of merit, which is an award for good work. Many people thought his painting was one of the best at the exhibition. That same year, he won second prize for his painting A View on the Weatherboard at another show.

For the second New South Wales Academy of Arts exhibition in April 1873, Carse presented four oil paintings. These included Mount Dromedary from Hobbs' Point, The Waterfall in the Blue Mountains, and two Scottish scenes: Loch Oich and Inverary Castle in Scotland and Loch Laggan. Carse won a special prize of £25 for his painting of Loch Oich and Inverary Castle in Scotland.

In April 1874, Carse submitted a self-portrait to the third New South Wales Academy of Arts exhibition. This painting showed him in his studio, working with his brush and palette. In July, nine of Carse's paintings were sent to an exhibition in Melbourne. These included many of his well-known works like Loch Oich and Inverary Castle in Scotland and The Waterfall in the Blue Mountains.

For the fourth New South Wales Academy of Arts exhibition in March 1875, Carse submitted five paintings. These included Bega Swamp and Views on the Wagonga River. He received a "Highly Commended" award and another Certificate of Merit for one of his pieces. These works were later shown at the Sydney Intercolonial Exhibition of 1875.

Carse, who was living in Waverley at the time, sent two more paintings to an exhibition in Melbourne in September 1875. These were A Creek in New South Wales and Walaga Falls. He earned third place for these artworks. In November 1875, Carse and other artists visited special camps set up by the Academy of Arts in the Grose Valley, Blue Mountains, to paint.

An exhibition of his new artwork was held at the Melbourne Public Library. Carse became very successful, and one of his drawings was even featured on the front cover of the Illustrated Melbourne Post. An engraving of his painting showing Aboriginal people by a fire at King George Sound was also created for a book called Australia Illustrated.

By 1876, James Carse had helped start the Victorian Academy of Art in Melbourne and the New South Wales Academy of Art. He had also won many awards. At this time, he was described as "perhaps the best painter in the colony" of New South Wales. His paintings were selling for a good price. In 1880, he joined a group of artists who left the Academy of Art to form the Art Society of New South Wales. Carse was creating many paintings, but over time, his new works became less original as he often painted the same subjects again. He lived with his friend, artist George Podmore, at Mosman Bay.

World's Columbian Exposition, 1893

The World's Columbian Exposition was a huge world's fair held in Chicago in 1893. It celebrated 400 years since Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas. For the art section of the fair, a collection of 46 oil paintings by James Carse was loaned by A. E. Watson from Sydney. These paintings were part of the New South Wales collection of artists shown at this important international event. The paintings included:

Legacy

James Howe Carse's artwork is still admired today. His paintings are kept in several important art galleries. These include Gallery Oldham in England, the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia, and the National Library of Australia. His work helps us understand the landscapes and life in Australia and beyond during his time.