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Barker, Henry Aston, 1774-1856 (Artist)

 Person

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 6 Collections and/or Records:

Explanation of a view of Stirling, exhibiting at the Panorama, Leicester Square

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-2095
Content Description

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.

Dates: Publication: 1832

Panorama of London from the roof of the Albion Flour Mills

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-2092
Content Description

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.

Dates: 1792

Panoramic scene of the field of Battle, near Waterloo ... for the Panorama, Leicester Square

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-1101
Scope and Contents There are 8 parts to the panorama and it was intended that they be joined together to form a complete circle. The viewer would then stand in the centre and have a panoramic view of the entire scene of Battle. Each part is around 60cm x 29cm. Drawn on the Plateau of Mont St. Jean, they show: - No.1 -The farm at La Haye Saint, and more - No.2 - Around the orchard of...
Dates: 1816

Viewers' key of a panorama entitled "Lord Nelson's Attack on Copenhagen", by Robert Barker and Henry Aston Barker

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-2001
Scope and Contents This is the viewer's key for a panorama entitled "Lord Nelson’s Attack on Copenhagen", printed by J. Adlard in 1802. It is an exploded circular diagram, with the illustrated features numbered, and a letterpress explanatory key.According to Ralph Hyde's Dictionary of Panoramists of the English Speaking World, this panorama was exhibited between May 1802 and April 1803 and executed by Robert Barker’s son, Henry Ashton Barker who had been introduced...
Dates: [1802]

Viewer's key to a panorama of Dover, taken from the South Pier

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-2088
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: Publication: c 1818

"Viewer's keys" to three panoramas exhibited in Leicester Square: Battle of Trafalgar, City of Corfu, and George IV's Coronation Procession

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-2043
Content Description This collection consists of the "viewers' keys" of three panoramas created by Henry Aston Barker and shown in "The Panorama" on Leicester Square, London. They depict the Battle of Trafalgar, the City of Corfu (Greece), and George IV's Coronation Procession. Battle of Trafalgar, printed by J. Adlard, [1806]. Single sheet, 410 x 330 mm. This is the printed viewer’s "key" to the large-scale version of this...
Dates: Publication: 1806; c 1820; 1822