Hello amsterdam
Almost the only information available on Joseph Barber comes from the
Birmingham Art Gallery. They tell us that he was born in 1757 in
Newcastle, where his father sold prints. He moved to Birmingham in the
1770s and by the mid-1780s had established himself as the city's first
professional drawing teacher. His own sons, Charles and Joseph
Vincent, were among those who attended his drawing classes. Other
students whose names are still known today were David Cox (1783-1859),
and the engraver cousins, William Radclyffe (1780-1855) and John Pye
(1782?1874).
Originally Barber earned his living by designing, painting and
japanning articles made of papier-mâché. Later he was in demand as a
portrait draughtsman as well as a drawing teacher, with a school of
his own.
Most works by Barber were watercolours or drawings. Some of the
pictures described as watercolours are monochrome pen or pencil and
wash, not coloured paintings.
He was one of the first artists from Birmingham to go to North Wales
to draw and paint. Not long afterwards other artists in the city
started to make sketching trips to Wales.
Charles Barber (1783-1854), who painted in both oils and watercolour,
moved to Liverpool to teach, but Joseph Vincent Barber (1788-1838)
carried on the school in Birmingham. The Birmingham Art Gallery has
works by both men in its collection.
Joseph Barber also had three daughters, Maria, Eliza and Ann Matilda,
whose floral paintings were exhibited in Birmingham and Liverpool.
They taught drawing, too, probably privately to young ladies.
Some surviving works are attributed to the "Barber Family".
Barber's wife was called Elizabeth, according to genealogical
information available at:
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/
It looks as if Barber's school/studio, which was on the corner of
Newhall and Edmund Streets, is no longer there:
http://jquarter.members.beeb.net/walk4.htm
============
Apart from one pair of pencil and watercolour sketches (see below),
the only price information online requires a minimum subscription of
$15 to ArtPrice.com.
They have auction records for sixteen of Joseph Barber's works,
including views of two Welsh castles. The other titles sound as if
they are all rural scenes and you'll notice that the biggest one is
about 9 inches by 12. Type in 'Barber' at:
http://web.artprice.com/start.aspx?l=en
Since many of the sales are recent (2002), I think this would be a
great help in valuing your drawing.
Subscription information is here:
http://web.artprice.com/client/buy.aspx
There are brief online descriptions of three other works.
This pair were given an auction guide price of between 1200 and 1500
Euros only last month:
"Joseph Barber (1757-1811) A FIGURE ON A PATH IN A ROCKY LANDSCAPE; A
FIGURE AND TWO DONKEYS APPROACHING A BRIDGE] (A pair), one signed,
pencil and watercolour, {each 16cm by 20cm (6in by 8in)} (2) E1200-
1500"
http://www.invaluable.com/tennants/xq/asp/SaleID.1097774/LotNumber.846/qx/lot.htm
* * *
"A pen and wash drawing by Joseph Barber (1758-1811) [sic] in the
collections of the City Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham . . depicts
the interior of a larger nailshop in or near Birmingham c.1800."
http://www.bdlha.freeola.com/historian/birmingham-nail/birmingham-nail.htm
* * *
Beddgelert Bridge North Wales 1799
Pen and ink with ink wash on paper
Height 203 mm Width 280 mm
Birmingham Art Gallery (see links below)
============
The Birmingham Gallery takes its information on Barber from a booklet
about him and other artists from the city. This does not seem to be
available from their online shop.
"Title Details: The Birmingham school : paintings, drawings and prints
by Birmingham artists from the permanent collection / selected and
catalogued by Stephen Wildman
Publisher: Birmingham : Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery, c1990
Physical desc.: 87 p : ill. (some col.) ; 26 cm
ISBN/ISSN: 0709301715
Note: Catalog of an exhibition held July 28-Oct. 14, 1990 at the
Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery
Includes bibliographical references (p. 13-16) and index"
http://www.copac.ac.uk/copac/wzgw?id=4384151&f=u&esn=F&rsn=1&rn=1
The only two copies I know of are at the Gallery itself and in the
British Library in London. Perhaps you could inquire at the Gallery
using this feedback form:
http://www.bmag.org.uk/feedback/
I'll give you links to pages prepared by the Birmingham Art Gallery
but, in case they don't work, I will also refer you to the home page,
where clicking on 'collections' and entering Barber in the search box
will lead to all their information and an image of the Beddgelert
picture:
http://www.bmag.org.uk/
These are the direct links:
Biography of Joseph Barber
http://server1.minisisinc.com/minisa.dll/2891/PEOPLE_AUTHORITY/FULLNAME/Joseph+Barber?JUMP
Beddgelert Bridge North Wales
http://server1.minisisinc.com/minisa.dll/2891/1/1/10?RECORD
Links to watercolours by Joseph Barber and his sons
http://server1.minisisinc.com/minisa.dll/2891/1/0?SEARCH&SHOWSINGLE=Y
Search page
http://server1.minisisinc.com/minisa.dll/144/BMA?DIRECTSEARCH
I hope you enjoy finding out more about your drawing. I enjoyed the research!
Please feel free to ask if there's some way I could clarify the answer for you.
Best wishes - Leli
Searches:
"Joseph Barber" (1757-1811)
"Joseph Barber" Birmingham
"Joseph Barber" drawing
Birmingham Art Gallery |
