Charles Burton Barber
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Charles Burton Barber (1845 – 1894),
was an English painter who attained great success with his paintings
of children and their pets.
Barber was born in Great Yarmouth
in Norfolk, and studied from the age of 18 at the Royal Academy,
London - receiving a silver medal for drawing in 1864, and first
exhibiting there in 1866.
During his lifetime Barber was
regarded as one of England's finest animal painters and received
commissions from Queen Victoria to do paintings of her with
grandchildren and dogs, and also the Prince of Wales (later Edward
VII) and his pets. A number of his portraits are in the Royal
Collection. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1866 to 1893. In
1883 he was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters.
Barber became a very popular
sporting and animal painter, specialising particularly in
sentimental portraits of dogs, often with children. His work ranged
from photographically realistic to quick sketches. Although regarded
as overly sentimental, his work remains popular, largely because of
his competent painting.
Barber received his final
commission in 1894 to paint Queen Victoria, with her grandchildren,
in her pony-carriage. He died in London soon afterwards. His place
as foremost painter of children and pets was taken by Arthur Elsley.
Many of Barber’s paintings were
engraved. He exhibited at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters,
Walker Art Gallery and Manchester City Art Gallery. Much of his art
is at the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight.
