Barry, James

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Barry, James (1741–1806). A history painter, Barry was brought from Ireland to London by Edmund Burke, who also paid for him to visit Italy, where he was influenced by the Renaissance great masters. He was elected ARA in 1772, RA in 1773, and appointed professor of painting in 1782, but his truculence alienated other Royal Academy members who petitioned the king to have him expelled in 1799. Between 1777 and 1783/4 he worked for almost no payment on six large pictures on the theme of the Progress of Human Culture, in the Society of Arts, London. Grand-manner history painting was little appreciated by British patrons, yet Barry persisted, enduring poverty and squalor, to become the only British painter to follow consistently the precepts set by Reynolds for this style.

June Cochrane

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