James Barry Self-Portrait
Self-portrait of artist James Barry in which he portrays two of his friends: James Paine Jr and Dominique Lefèvre.
Courtesy of Cork City LibrariesJames Barry Self-Portrait
Courtesy of Cork City Libraries
Courtesy of Cork City Libraries
James Barry Self-Portrait
Self-portrait of artist James Barry in which he portrays two of his friends: James Paine Jr and Dominique Lefèvre.
Courtesy of Cork City LibrariesJames Barry was born in Cork on 11th October, 1741. When he was young, he studied art in Cork and Dublin. He travelled to Bologna and Rome in Italy between 1766 and 1771. There he studied the art of the old masters and he became very interested in history painting.
Many other artists at the time painted portraits of the wealthy to earn money. However, Barry's first love was for history painting.
Tarpean Rock
'Tarpean Rock, Italian Street Scene, with Ruined Buildings', pen and ink with grey wash, c. 1770 by James Barry
Courtesy of Cork City LibrariesTarpean Rock
Courtesy of Cork City Libraries
Courtesy of Cork City Libraries
Tarpean Rock
'Tarpean Rock, Italian Street Scene, with Ruined Buildings', pen and ink with grey wash, c. 1770 by James Barry
Courtesy of Cork City LibrariesBarry lived in poverty for most of his life and was not easy to get on with. In 1782 he became Professor of Painting at the Royal Academy. However, he was later expelled.
Barry's most famous works were painted for the Great Room of the Royal Society of Arts in London. He spent nearly six years working on six huge paintings.
He died in 1806 and is buried in St Paul's Cathedral in London.
Crowning of the Victors at Olympia
Crowning of the Victors at Olympia with Barry as Timanthes
Courtesy of Cork City LibrariesCrowning of the Victors at Olympia
Courtesy of Cork City Libraries
Courtesy of Cork City Libraries
Crowning of the Victors at Olympia
Crowning of the Victors at Olympia with Barry as Timanthes
Courtesy of Cork City Libraries
Detail from 'Crowning the Victors at Olympia'
Detail from 'Crowning the Victors at Olympia' showing Barry as Timanthes
Courtesy of Cork City LibrariesDetail from 'Crowning the Victors at Olympia'
Courtesy of Cork City Libraries
Courtesy of Cork City Libraries
Detail from 'Crowning the Victors at Olympia'
Detail from 'Crowning the Victors at Olympia' showing Barry as Timanthes
Courtesy of Cork City Libraries
King Lear Weeping over the Body of Cordelia
King Lear Weeping over the Body of Cordelia by James Barry, painted c. 1786
Courtesy of Cork City LibrariesKing Lear Weeping over the Body of Cordelia
Courtesy of Cork City Libraries
Courtesy of Cork City Libraries
King Lear Weeping over the Body of Cordelia
King Lear Weeping over the Body of Cordelia by James Barry, painted c. 1786
Courtesy of Cork City Libraries
The Phoenix or Resurrection of Freedom
'The Phoenix or Resurrection of Freedom', etching with engraving, by James Barry c. 1776
Courtesy of Cork City LibrariesThe Phoenix or Resurrection of Freedom
Courtesy of Cork City Libraries
Courtesy of Cork City Libraries
The Phoenix or Resurrection of Freedom
'The Phoenix or Resurrection of Freedom', etching with engraving, by James Barry c. 1776
Courtesy of Cork City Libraries