George Barret Jr.

George Barret Jr. (1767–1842) was an English landscape painter, and a son of the Irish artist George Barret Sr.

Self portrait, George Barret Jr.

Life

Almost certainly taught by his father, he exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1800-1803. He was an early member of the Society of Painters in Water Colours when it was founded in 1804, and exhibited prolifically, never missing an exhibition for 38 years. Little is known of his early years, except that in 1767 he was born in Orchard Street in London, off Portman Square, where his father lived after moving from his native Ireland. George Barret was seventeen when he and his brothers and sisters were left fatherless, and had to support themselves by their own efforts. Three of them, beside himself, took to the practice of art, but George was by far the most gifted artistically.

His earlier works were views of the Thames Valley and Home Counties and a few of Wales, but he increasingly turned to romantic compositions of a Claudian type showing poetic sunrises and sunsets without reference to locality. A truly visionary painter, his artistic power remained unimpaired to the last, even though his life was one long struggle against financial ruin.

He lived most of his life in Paddington, where he died on 19 March 1842. He was buried in the ancient churchyard of St. Mary's, Paddington.

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References
  • J.L. Roget. History of the Old-Watercolour Society, vol 1 (London, Longmans, Green, and Co., 1891) p299.
  • John Ramm. "Apostle of Light" (Antique Dealer & Collectors Guide, October 2000, Vol 54, No.3).
  • Huon Mallalieu, "Barret, George (1767–1842)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 2007 accessed 22 July 2007


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