Hugh Barron - Painter - Student of Sir Joshua Reynolds
Biography
Birth: 1747
Death: 1791
Painter and musician. A student of Joshua Reynolds until 1766. Apparently he was also considered the best amateur [violin] performer of his time.1
Life with James Boswell
Boswell mentions meeting Barron in the company of Lord Eglinton on May 4, 1763. Barron was described as "a boy of great genius both as a painter and a musician, [who] will probably be a man of great eminence. But at present he is a little black trifling being, so that his being in my company is a punishment to me". Although Barron was most likely very talented, he made no name for himself - which apparently was rather usual for students of Reynolds, who despite being a great painter was definitely not a good teacher.2
Notes
Note 1: Scholes, Percy A. (1948). The Great Dr. Burney, His Life, His Travels, His Works, His Family and His Friends, Vol. 1. Oxford University Press. p. 98 (Read it now!)
Note 2: Hudson, Derek B. (1958). Sir Joshua Reynolds, a Personal Study. Geoffrey Bles. p. 119 (Read it now!)
Recommended literature
Despite his great talent, Barron didn't make it big and is almost completely unknown today. The sources referred to in the notes are available online at Questia Online Library.
Related links
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