Norman Carter is pictured here in his painting clothes with a sketchbook and pencil. He presents himself as a sober craftsman, rather than a flamboyant artist. Carter, born in 1875, worked in stained glass and was one of the first Australian artists to take up mural painting.

Carter was a well-regarded, if conventional portrait painter and teacher. He taught at various institutions until the late 1940s, with appointments at the Royal Art Society of New South Wales until 1916, Sydney Technical College from 1915 to 1940 and the department of architecture at the University of Sydney from 1922 to 1947.

He was a prolific portrait painter but was disappointed in his ambition of winning the Archibald prize, despite numerous entries.