John Barnett

This portraitback to top

This portrait was first offered in 1897, but declined at that time owing to the NPG ten-year rule. The name of the artist was provided by one of the sitter's sons, who wrote (letter to Francillon of 24 October 1910, NPG archives): 'Baugniet painted my father in Paris as a young man - so I have always heard him say'. Baugniet also executed a lithograph of Barnett (dated 1845), showing him as a slightly older man than the NPG picture, but with the same beard, moustache and hairstyle (example in NPG). According to the Dictionary of National Biography, this portrait was painted when Barnett was thirty-seven.

Physical descriptionback to top

Healthy complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair, moustache and goatee beard. Dressed in a large, dark brown neck-tie, black waistcoat and coat, with a gold watch-chain. Background colour brown.

Provenanceback to top

Presented by the sitter's surviving children and R. E. Francillon, 1910.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Ormond, Early Victorian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1973, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.

View all known portraits for John Barnett