‘Night’ by Frederick Carter.
1885-1967.
Frederick Carter, painter and etcher born, was in Bradford. He abandoned an early career as a civil engineer and surveyor to study art in Paris, 1904, Antwerp, 1909-10 and in London 1908-11. In 1910-1916, and again in 1922, he was elected A.R.E. (Associate of the Royal Society of Etchers and Engravers). Between 1922 and 1927 he taught etching at the Liverpool School of Art, where he himself had once studied under Sir Frank Short.
Carter was fascinated by the astrological and magical and became a mystic symbolist artist and associated with Aleister Crowley. He worked on illustrations for D.H. Lawrence’s book, ‘Apocalypse’, that had begun its life as an introduction to Carter’s own book, ‘Dragon of Revelations’, published 1932, and which Carter had sent to Lawrence in New Mexico. Lawrence was apparently been attracted to Carter’s ideas and the two men met in Shropshire to discuss the collaborative venture.
Carter also worked closely with the occultist, Austin Osman Spare, to produce the journal ‘Form’. Carter wrote under the pseudonym ‘Francis Marsden’ and produced illustrations for the journal. His etchings and illustrations for the journal and other publications spurred him to write and illustrate his own books, published between 1926 and 1932.
He showed his work at the Royal Academy, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, New English Art Club.
‘The Winged Woman’ by Frederick Carter
From 1922 to 1927 he taught etching at Liverpool School of Art and during the 1930s he abandoned printmaking for writing, but continued to paint until the late 1950s. His work is in the collections of the British Museum and V&A. A retrospective exhibition was held at the 20th Century Gallery, Fulham, London, 1998.
Bibliography:
Frederic Carter ARE 1883-1967: A Study of his Etchings. By Richard Grenville Clark, Published by Apocalypse Press, 1998.
The Dragon of the Alchemists written and illustrated by Frederick Carter. Published by Elkin Mathews, London, 1926.
Manfred: A Tragedy by Lord Byron, illustrated by Frederick Carter. Published by Fanfrolico Press, London, 1929 .