George Barret

Background

Born in Dublin, the son of a cloth merchant, some time between 1728 and 1732, Barret began his career apprenticed to a staymaker.

Career

He taught drawing after completing his studies at the Royal Dublin Society. Later moving to England, he became a successful painter, particularly of wild and mountainous natural landscapes. Of the 31 paintings he showed at the Royal Academy in 1769–1782, more than a third depicted such scenery.

In his later years he suffered financial difficulties, but was helped by a recommendation by Burke in obtaining an appointment as master painter of Chelsea Hospital, a post he held until his death in 1784.

He died in Paddington in west London.

Achievements

• He married Frances Percy in 1757. Four of their children (George, James, Joseph and Mary) also became painters though only George Barret, Junior. (1767–1842) achieved particular notability, as an early member of the Society of Painters in Water Colours, where he exhibited prolifically.

Membership

He was a founding member of the London Royal Academy.

Connections

friends:

Edmund Burke