The Head of The Lake by Frank Thomas Carter, South Shields Museum & Art Gallery
Frank Thomas Carter (1853-1934)
The Head of The Lake (Derwentwater)
Oil on canvas
Carter was born at Warkworth, but later settled in Newcastle. He first had a job at the station newsagents W H Smith, then worked with his father running a restaurant and a public house. He took up painting as a hobby, but his skill as an artist soon led to him exhibiting and selling work. From 1898 he became a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy in London.
Carter’s favourite subject was the hills and lakes of the Lake District. In this painting he presents an idyllic classical-styled view of the upper reaches of Derwentwator. The path leads the viewer’s eye into the composition, echoing the sweeping curve of the lake. The lush greens of the grass and foliage and the still waters contrast with the bulk of the mountain looming out of the distant clouds, combining a sense of both the fine, soft beauty of nature and Its raw power and drama.
