BIOGRAPHY - Henry Barraud (1811 - 1874)

Henry Barraud was a Victorian painter most noted for his portraits, genre and sporting scenes.  Born in London, 16 May 1811, his family was originally of French origin.

His maternal grandfather was Thomas Hull, a well known miniature painter.  His father, unlike his grandfather, was not a painter but an official in the customs house. His elder brother William, however, was also a fine painter; with whom he collaborated on many sporting pictures.  The two brothers shared a studio from 1835 until his brother’s death in 1850.  They exhibited their joint pictures at the Royal Academy from 1836 ? 1859.  These were mostly portraits of horses and dogs and historical scenes. Together they produced a book entitled "Sketches of Figures and Animals", published by H. Graves and Co., c.1850.  It has been suggested that William painted the animals, while Henry painted the figures.  This may be so, but this certainly does not mean that Henry was not a fine animal painter, an example of this, is the fabulous animal pictures painted by him after his brother’s death.

Also, to his credit, Henry exhibited at the British Institute and the Royal Society of British Artists, Suffolk Street. He painted many portraits by request of Royalty, such as: "The Royal Highness Edward and Alexander, The Prince and Princess of Whales" and "Queen Victoria at a meet of Prince Albert's Harriers in Windsor Great Park". 

In 1842 he married Anna Maria Rose, it is thought that they had nine children (although some sources say seventeen.) and also adopted the orphaned son of his brother.  Two of his sons turned out to be artists, Mark Henry, and Frank James. 

In about 1858 Barraud and his wife became Roman Catholics.  This perhaps explains some of his leaning towards the depiction of sentimental Victorian genre scenes with a religious bias such as "'We praise thee O G?d".  Like so many painters Henry suffered from financial difficulties and it is said that his sons moved from one Roman Catholic school to another, their fees left unpaid.

Henry died from a kidney disease at his home in Glocester Place on June 17th 1874.