Seamstresses in Fine Art

January 24, 2015

Child Sewing

A Child Sewing

Robert Barnes, Girl Sewing

Robert Barnes (1840-1945)

English

NOTE-Contrary to “Seamstresses in Fine Art” tradition, I was unable to find any biographical information on Mr. Barnes.  If there are any sleuths out there who can find information…we’d love to read more about these adorable images.

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16 comments

  • Laura

    http://www.victorianweb.org/victorian/art/illustration/barnes/barnes1.html

    This link gives a short biography, but doesn’t reference these pictures.

    • WordPress.com Support

      Laura, Thanks so much! I kept running into dead ends!

  • Rosemarazzle

    Rosemary B here:
    These girls look nothing like me when I was a kid. 😀
    I was usually trampling around playing in woods and creeks – such a carefree life.
    This girl is actually being productive. Perhaps making a dress for her doll, or mending something

    • WordPress.com Support

      Enjoying nature is productive in its own way!

  • Denise Smart

    What adorable pictures. Thanks for posting

  • Carole

    Most beautiful and sweet paintings, would love to hang them in my home too!

  • Marta. south Georgia

    How precious are these two paintings… would love to hang them on my sewing room wall. Also wouid.love to visit England and Scotland, home of my forefathers….What a treat to hear from ladies who live there.

  • Here’s a site that has more, not biographical, but more from Robert Barnes including more that particular girl and her sewing:
    http://www.art.com/gallery/id–a63074/robert-barnes-posters.htm?ui=17AD8B2A1BA242C9A5DC54362DDD6A7C
    and specifically:
    http://www.art.com/gallery/id–a63074/robert-barnes-posters.htm?ui=17AD8B2A1BA242C9A5DC54362DDD6A7C

  • Freda

    What lovely images! Ring true for every Granny I am sure! Done some sleuthing but got stuck down rabbit holes. Then deleted it! Best I could find was a description of him as a ‘domestic painter who was chosen to illustrate the first publication of Thomas Hardy’ novel The Mayor of Casterbridge. This was for Graphics Publications here in UK, I think.
    That ties in for me with the details in the painting , the sleeping cat , the tangled feet, and the looks of concentration.
    Its a bright frosty day here in Scotland , so I think I am off now to tidy my sewing room , currently full of winter sunshine,… inspired by these two wee bairns!
    Thanks for the nudge!..inspiring ,as usual!!

  • A little more, but not related to the pieces you posted

    ROBERT BARNES, ARWS (1840-1895): Exhibited A Merry-Go-Round on the Ice in London, Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours1888, no. 309. Barnes is recorded as a painter of genre, figures and landscape. He exhibited at the Royal Academy and Old Society of Painters in Watercolours (OWS)

  • I found this site,which shows Robert Barnes A.R.W.S as 1840 -1895 (not 1945!)
    http://www.invaluable.co.uk/artist/barnes-robert-1840-8ei99jen0q

    This might give you a better lead… Let me know if I can do more from here in the UK…

  • Janet

    I guess stitchers and painters are a good pairing because the sitter, at least, may be nearly as occupied as the painter. Such fun to study the paintings–one child sits in a fine home, the other in a simple one but both girls look bored and the first looks nearly asleep! Thank you for finding these!

  • Laroletta Petty

    I look forward to this posting about seamstresses in fine art each week. I had no idea that so many artists in our history portrayed those who created with needle and thread. I wonder how the contemporary artist will portray the long arm seamstress?
    Thank you for sharing this feature with us.

  • Ann Marie

    Each piece is better than the next! Enjoy these postings very much!

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