George Barret Jr.

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.

[1] George Barret was seventeen when he and his brothers and sisters were left fatherless, and had to support themselves by their own efforts.

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.

These early works were mainly topographical views in oil, but after he helped found the Water-Colour Society he turned to watercolour.

[1] A truly visionary painter, his artistic power remained unimpaired to the last, even though his life was one long struggle against financial ruin.