Barth was born at Küstrin (today Kostrzyn in Poland) in the Neumark region of Brandenburg.

After studying at Gotha, Eisenach, Wittenberg, and Jena, he travelled extensively, visiting most of the countries of Europe.

Too independent to accept any regular post, he lived alternately at Halle and on his property at Sellerhausen in Leipzig.

Because his library and manuscripts were destroyed by a fire at Sellerhausen, Barth moved to the Paulinum at Leipzig, where he died.

Regarding Barth and his output, 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica gives the following judgment: "his works, which were the fruits of extensive reading and a retentive memory, are unmethodical and uncritical and marred by want of taste and of clearness.