In the later part of his career, Barret came to specialize in the Gouache technique of painting which had been introduced into Britain by the Italian artist  Marco Ricci between 1708 and 1726.
A dated example of G Barret (22 February 1781) shows Lake Ullswater: a party of tourists gathering to enjoy the prospects at the head of the lake.
This suggests that Barret had made a tour in the Lake District in the year previous to 1781when he exhibited at the Royal Academy a View of Windermere Lake, in Westmoreland, the effect, the sun beginning to appear in the morning, with the mists breaking and dispersing (no.40).
A gouache view of Ullswater in the National Gallery of Ireland, was used for an engraving by Samuel Middiman for Select Views in Great Britain.
Middiman describes the view of the bold promontory of Hollin Fell, in the centre, taken from Soulby Fell, with: ‘the vast chaos of mountains that guard the Head of the lake beyond.
Barret has included an elegant group of figures enjoying a picnic on Soulby-Fell on the right of the composition; a ferry transports more tourists and their horses across the lake to the base of this hill.
In the later part of his career, Barret came to specialize in the Gouache technique of painting which had been introduced into Britain by the Italian artist  Marco Ricci between 1708 and 1726. A dated example of G Barret (22 February 1781) shows Lake Ullswater: a party of tourists gathering to enjoy the prospects at the head of the lake. This suggests that Barret had made a tour in the Lake District in the year previous to 1781when he exhibited at the Royal Academy a View of Windermere Lake, in Westmoreland, the effect, the sun beginning to appear in the morning, with the mists breaking and dispersing (no.40). A gouache view of Ullswater in the National Gallery of Ireland, was used for an engraving by Samuel Middiman for Select Views in Great Britain. Middiman describes the view of the bold promontory of Hollin Fell, in the centre, taken from Soulby Fell, with: ‘the vast chaos of mountains that guard the Head of the lake beyond. Barret has included an elegant group of figures enjoying a picnic on Soulby-Fell on the right of the composition; a ferry transports more tourists and their horses across the lake to the base of this hill.
George Barret Sr.