Background
Barron was the son of an apothecary in Soho, London, and became a pupil of Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Barron was the son of an apothecary in Soho, London, and became a pupil of Sir Joshua Reynolds.
After leaving Reynolds" studio he set off for Italy by way of Lisbon, where he stopped for some time and painted portraits. In 1771-1772 he was in Rome. Returning to London he settled in Leicester Square, and exhibited some portraits at the Royal Academy in 1782-1783 and 1786.
However, his later work did not fulfil the promise of his youth, and he never approached the quality of work of his teacher.
His painting The Children of George Bond of Ditchleys (1768) is in the collection of the Tate Gallery
Mezzotints by Valentine Green were published after Barron"s portraits of John Swan and George Bridges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney. He died in the autumn of 1791, aged about forty-five.
He was a good violinist, considered the best amateur performer of his time.
