actually, it understates his background: He was working class, but a good artist trained by his father who painted people's pets (of all things) and so when someone wanted an artist to copy the paintings inside the tombs, he was hired because they didn't have to pay him very much...another fact to remember: He was not independently wealthy, so when he was fired for taking the side of the workmen against some VIP tourists, it was a financial disaster for him. He had to support himself by painting pictures for tourists.
History Blog has more about Carter's career as an artist.
Librivox has an audio book about the discovery of Tut's Tomb LINK
as for the nobleman who paid Carter to excavate, that was Lord Carnarvan.
If you watched Downton Abbey, you are seeing his house.
Carnavan married a French heiress but wrecked a car and spent winters in Egypt to avoid the unhealthy air of an English winter.
his death shortly after the tomb was opened (from an infected mosquito bite) is the source of the legend of King Tut's curse.
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