Deer and horses beneath trees in a parkland

Although primarily known as an oil painter, Barret executed a number of wash and bodycolour drawings; his romantic interpretation of English scenery had an enormous influence on later generations of watercolourists.

Born in Dublin, Barret attended the drawing school at St. George's Lane, before gaining the patronage of Edmund Burke who commissioned him to draw around Powerscourt and the Dargle. Barret moved to London in 1762 and in 1768, becoming a founder member of the Royal Academy. A pair of similar but considerably smaller bodycolour drawings were sold in the Irish sale, Christie's London, 21 May 1997, lot 13 (9,200).