Rev. William Henry Barnard (Co. Donegal or Co. Derry 1767-1818 London)
The Radcliffe Camera from the Great Quadrangle of All Souls College, Oxford

Pen and brown ink and watercolour, on paper
30 x 44 cm
Signed with initials ‘H.B.’ (lower right)

Rev William Henry Barnard was an extremely well-connected artist and clergyman -being first cousin of Prime Minister George Canning, grandson of William Barnard, Bishop of Derry, and nephew of Thomas Barnard, Dean of Derry and Bishop of Limerick. He graduated from Pembroke College, Oxford in 1797. During his time at university he studied drawing with John Baptist Malchair (1731 – 1812) and produced numerous drawings and watercolours, often depicting humble Oxford street scenes using a black monochrome wash.

He is now represented in a number of important collections. TATE acquired twelve of his paintings in 1996 and a drawing by Barnard of Windsor Castle was purchased for the Royal Collection in 1947.

This watercolour depicts a view of the Radcliffe Camera from the great quadrangle of All Souls College, Oxford. It demonstrates a strong sense of architectural perspective as Barnard expertly captures the angles and masonry of the baroque architecture. In keeping with Barnard’s tendency to capture humble Oxford street scenes, this loftier rendering of this Oxford landmark still presents gardeners and academics alongside each other. He thereby adeptly depicts everyday life in this Oxford college in the early Eighteenth Century.

Provenance: The Collection of the Late John Appleby: A Channel Island.

Condition: Generally very good, comes framed.

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