Barker, Henry Aston, 1774-1856 (Artist)
Dates
- Existence: 1774 - 1856
Biography
Henry Aston Barker was the younger son of Robert Barker (1739-1806), the panorama painter. Aged 12, he was sent by his father to take outlines of Edinburgh from the city's Calton Hill for the world's first 360 degree exhibition panorama. In London, Barker panoramas were exhibited at an establishment in Castle Street, off Leicester Square, the first being a view of London from the roof of the Albion Mills in 1791, the drawings for which were made by the young Henry. Later on, from 1793, Barker panoramas moved to the first purpose-built panorama building in the world, in Leicester Square, London. This was an immediate success, and when Robert Barker died in 1806, Henry took over the business in partnership with the artist John Burford. In 1817 Henry also purchased his older brother Thomas' rival operation called The Strand Panorama, the two circles of which were constructed in 1802-04. He soon delegated the management to John Burford (fl 1812-1850), a former pupil of his father. It became known as Burford's Panorama and closed in 1831.
Found in 8 Collections and/or Records:
Autograph letter from Henry Aston Barker to William Stevenson, 6 September 1808
Explanation of a view of Stirling, exhibiting at the Panorama, Leicester Square
Etched illustration of the panorama of Stirling which was exhibited at Barker's Panorama, Leicester Square, London, from December 1832 to June 1833. Originally issued as part of the printed guide sold to visitors to the attraction.
Frieze panorama of Constantinople and its environs, c.1802
Frieze Panorama showing 360° view of Constantinople, the Bosphorus Strait and its environs from an elevated vantage point, showing many rooftops, minarets, mosques and other buildings, passageways, boats and ships. Drawn in situ by Henry Aston Barker, etched by Charles Tomkins, and aquatinted by Frederick Christian and George Robert Lewis. Henry Aston Barker exhibited his Panoramas of Constantinople in 1802 and they were later published in 8 plates.
Panorama of London from the roof of the Albion Flour Mills
This is a small panorama in six panels showing a 360 degree view of London, centred on St. Paul's, seen from across the Thames. Aquatint engraving by Frederick Birnie, based on drawings by Henry Aston Barker, which were used to create the full-size panorama shown in Robert Barker's public panorama in 1792.
Panoramic scene of the field of Battle, near Waterloo ... for the Panorama, Leicester Square
Viewers' key of a panorama entitled "Lord Nelson's Attack on Copenhagen", by Robert Barker and Henry Aston Barker
Viewer's key to a panorama of Dover, taken from the South Pier
Single sheet illustrated guide to a panorama of Dover taken from the South Pier, published by Henry Aston BArker and John Burford c 1818. The circular view of Dover from the South Pier shows the entrance to the Harbour, the Outer Basin, the cast iron tunnel intended to clear away the bar by force of water, coastal features from Shakespear Cliff and the Western Heights to the South Foreland and the various fortifications including the New Barracks and Drop Redoubt and the Castle.