Explore: Jerry Barrett

(1824 - 1906)

Jerry Barrett was a historical, genre and portrait painter, initially based in Brighton. He travelled to Scutari, Turkey, to paint ‘Florence Nightingale Receiving the Wounded at Scutari’ (1857; National Portrait Gallery), although Nightingale refused to sit for the work. From about 1854 he lived in London. In 1859 his wife, Henrietta, died aged just 30, perhaps during childbirth. In 1872 he travelled on the continent and visited Rome. Shortly after his return he settled near Regent’s Park. However, his home was damaged when a barge carrying gunpowder exploded by Regents Canal in 1874. He continued to work from the same address until at least 1885, showing works at the Royal Academy, British Institution and Royal Society of British Artists.