Thomas Heathfield Carrick
Encyclopedia
Thomas Heathfield Carrick (4 July 1802 - 1874) was an English portrait miniature painter who portrayed many leading political and literary figures of his age. He developed the method of painting portraits on marble
rather than the usual ivory
.
, near Carlisle in Cumberland
(now Cumbria
), the son of John Carrick (d. 1852), thought to be a Carlisle Mill owner but listed on the register of births as a calico
printer, and Mary (nee) Anderson. He was educated at Carlisle Grammar School and by his uncle, the Rev. John Topping. He was said to be self-taught in art, but since he also began exhibiting at the Carlisle Academy in 1827, it is likely that he also attended art classes there.
After a quarrel, Carrick left home, trained, and then set up as a Chemist (in Carlisle). While in business he continued to paint miniatures, despite never having seen an example by another artist, apart from himself, until he came across a piece by William Charles Ross
. He gradually built up a reputation as a portraitist in the locality, painting, for example, the actor Charles Kean
(who was beginning to win popularity as a provincial actor).
On 27 July 1829, he married Mary Mulcaster by whom he had 5 children. He was eventually able to sell up his apothecary business, and moved to Newcastle upon Tyne
in 1836 (after exhibiting there in 1835), then to London
, with his family, in November 1839. From 1841 to 1866, he exhibited his work at the Royal Academy
, but never accepted an associateship.
Amongst his illustrious subjects were Thomas Carlyle
, Sir Robert Peel, Lord John Russell, William Wordsworth
, Samuel Rogers
, Caroline Norton, Eliza Cook
, William Charles Macready
, Nellie Farren
, Luigi Lablache
, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
, Daniel O'Connell
and Robert Owen
. In 1845, he received a medal from Prince Albert
for his work in painting miniatures on marble.
Carrick abandoned miniature painting in 1868, the profession having been superseded by photography
, and retired to Newcastle, having been awarded the Turner annuity (a pension) by the Royal Academy a year before his retirement. There he died in 1874.
His son, John Mulcaster Carrick (1833 - 1896) was a landscape and figure painter. Amongst Carrick's pupils was landscape artist John Henry Mole (1814-1886).
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
rather than the usual ivory
Ivory
Ivory is a term for dentine, which constitutes the bulk of the teeth and tusks of animals, when used as a material for art or manufacturing. Ivory has been important since ancient times for making a range of items, from ivory carvings to false teeth, fans, dominoes, joint tubes, piano keys and...
.
Life and work
Carrick was born in UpperbyUpperby
Upperby is a suburb of Carlisle, in the City of Carlisle district, in the English county of Cumbria.- Location :It is a few miles to the south-east of the city centre of Carlisle and is near the River Petteril.- Features :...
, near Carlisle in Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
(now Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
), the son of John Carrick (d. 1852), thought to be a Carlisle Mill owner but listed on the register of births as a calico
Calico
-Animals:* Calico butterfly, a genus of brush-footed butterflies commonly called the Crackers, Calicoes, or Clicks*Calico cat, a domestic cat with the common three- or four-colored coat pattern calico -Animals:* Calico butterfly, a genus of brush-footed butterflies commonly called the Crackers,...
printer, and Mary (nee) Anderson. He was educated at Carlisle Grammar School and by his uncle, the Rev. John Topping. He was said to be self-taught in art, but since he also began exhibiting at the Carlisle Academy in 1827, it is likely that he also attended art classes there.
After a quarrel, Carrick left home, trained, and then set up as a Chemist (in Carlisle). While in business he continued to paint miniatures, despite never having seen an example by another artist, apart from himself, until he came across a piece by William Charles Ross
William Charles Ross
Sir William Charles Ross was an English portrait and portrait miniature painter of Scottish descent; early in his career, he was known for historical paintings. He became a member of the Royal Academy in 1842.-Life and work:...
. He gradually built up a reputation as a portraitist in the locality, painting, for example, the actor Charles Kean
Charles Kean
Charles John Kean , was born at Waterford, Ireland, the son of the actor Edmund Kean.After preparatory education at Worplesdon and at Greenford, near Harrow, he was sent to Eton College, where he remained three years...
(who was beginning to win popularity as a provincial actor).
On 27 July 1829, he married Mary Mulcaster by whom he had 5 children. He was eventually able to sell up his apothecary business, and moved to Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
in 1836 (after exhibiting there in 1835), then to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, with his family, in November 1839. From 1841 to 1866, he exhibited his work at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
, but never accepted an associateship.
Amongst his illustrious subjects were Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle was a Scottish satirical writer, essayist, historian and teacher during the Victorian era.He called economics "the dismal science", wrote articles for the Edinburgh Encyclopedia, and became a controversial social commentator.Coming from a strict Calvinist family, Carlyle was...
, Sir Robert Peel, Lord John Russell, William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth was a major English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with the 1798 joint publication Lyrical Ballads....
, Samuel Rogers
Samuel Rogers
Samuel Rogers was an English poet, during his lifetime one of the most celebrated, although his fame has long since been eclipsed by his Romantic colleagues and friends Wordsworth, Coleridge and Byron...
, Caroline Norton, Eliza Cook
Eliza Cook
Eliza Cook was an English author, Chartist poet and writer born in London Road, Southwark.- Background :...
, William Charles Macready
William Charles Macready
-Life:He was born in London, and educated at Rugby.It was his intention to go up to Oxford, but in 1809 the embarrassed affairs of his father, the lessee of several provincial theatres, called him to share the responsibilities of theatrical management. On 7 June 1810 he made a successful first...
, Nellie Farren
Nellie Farren
Nellie Farren was an English actress and singer best known for her roles as the "principal boy" in musical burlesques at the Gaiety Theatre.Born into a theatrical family, Farren began acting as a child...
, Luigi Lablache
Luigi Lablache
Luigi Lablache was an Italian opera singer of French and Irish heritage. He was most noted for his comic performances, possessing a powerful and agile bass voice, a wide range, and adroit acting skills: Leporello in Don Giovanni was one of his signature roles.-Biography:Luigi Lablache was born in...
, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline...
, Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell (6 August 1775 – 15 May 1847; often referred to as The Liberator, or The Emancipator, was an Irish political leader in the first half of the 19th century...
and Robert Owen
Robert Owen
Robert Owen was a Welsh social reformer and one of the founders of utopian socialism and the cooperative movement.Owen's philosophy was based on three intellectual pillars:...
. In 1845, he received a medal from Prince Albert
Prince Albert
Prince Albert was the husband and consort of Queen Victoria.Prince Albert may also refer to:-Royalty:*Prince Albert Edward or Edward VII of the United Kingdom , son of Albert and Victoria...
for his work in painting miniatures on marble.
Carrick abandoned miniature painting in 1868, the profession having been superseded by photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
, and retired to Newcastle, having been awarded the Turner annuity (a pension) by the Royal Academy a year before his retirement. There he died in 1874.
His son, John Mulcaster Carrick (1833 - 1896) was a landscape and figure painter. Amongst Carrick's pupils was landscape artist John Henry Mole (1814-1886).
External links
- Thomas Carrick on Artnet
- Portraits by Thomas Carrick (National Portrait Gallery)
- Portrait of an unknown elderly man (Watercolour on marble - V&A)
- Portrait of an unknown woman (Watercolour on marble - V & A)