James Barbut Shell Painting
Signed James Barbut
Dated 1779
Exhibited at the Royal Academy, London 1779
James Barbut was a naturalist and painter who had a particular fascination for his subject, choosing to illustrate his own published classic works such as his book on shells, Genera Vermium of Linnoeus pub. London 1788. The original 126 watercolours for his bound work on insects, Genera Insectorum of Linnaeus pub. London 1781, was purchased by the Natural History Museum, London in 2000.
Barbut also worked in oils, specialising in still lives of insects and birds, with shells being a favourite recurring theme. He exhibited at the Royal Academy on numerous occasions between 1777 and 1786.
h 79 cm w104 cm (31 x 41 in)
Bibliography:
The Dictionary of British 18th Century Painters, Ellis Waterhouse pub. Suffolk 1981 illus p.36
Benezit Dictionary of Artists Vol 1 p.1130
The Royal Academy of Art Algernon Graves pub. Kingsmead & Hilmarton Manor Press 1989 vol 1 p.110
Dictionary of Arts, Principal London Exhibitions from 1760 to 1893 Algernon Graves pub. Kingsmead Bath 1973 p.14