| Dates: | 1851 (check) - 1881 | | Born: | India, Bombay | | Active: | India |
Preparing biographies
The son of a lieutenant colonel in the Indian army, Barr was born in Bombay and educated in England at Addiscombe Military Seminary; he entered the Bombay Native Infantry in 1833. He was proficient in Hindustani and became an interpreter. Holding a number of largely administrative posts, Barr took two leaves of absence to visit Egypt and seemed to be doing well in the army until 1852, when, according to his service record, he showed “great want of energy, decision and accuracy of recollection.” Perhaps photography proved a welcome release, but one at least hopes that Barr’s newly found passion for the camera was not a detriment to his military career. How and when he got his start in amateur photography are not known, but Barr was elected president of the Photographic Society of Bombay in 1856 and subsequently served on its council. He contributed both calotypes and waxed-paper views to the society’s 1856 exhibition. His was obviously an appointment of merit; according to the Journal of the Photographic Society of Bombay, fellow members felt that Barr “excels in Talbotype,” and his calotypes of “the wood scenery about Bombay . . . were very beautiful, both as regards execution as photographs, tone as prints, and in artistic effect, and were deservedly admired by all.” Barr remained in military service in India for his entire career.
Roger Taylor & Larry J. Schaaf Impressed by Light: British Photographs from Paper Negatives, 1840-1860 (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2007)
This biography is courtesy and copyright of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is included here with permission.
Date last updated: 4 Nov 2012.
SHARED BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION PROJECT
We welcome institutions and scholars willing to test the sharing of biographies for the benefit of the photo-history community. The biography above is a part of this trial.
If you find any errors please email us details so they can be corrected as soon as possible. |
|
| | Premium content for those who want to understand photography |
References are available for subscribers.There is so much more to explore when you subscribe.
Subscriptions
| | Portraits
If you have a portrait of this photographer or know of the whereabouts of one we would be most grateful.
alan@luminous-lint.com |
Family history
If you are related to this photographer and interested in tracking down your extended family we can place a note here for you to help. It is free and you would be amazed who gets in touch.
alan@luminous-lint.com |
|
LuminousLint 
@LuminousLint