This work is likely a studio version of a portrait that was painted by Reynolds, one of the leading portrait artists of his day, in November of 1779. Some copies of the painting were made for officers who served under the admiral. Barrington (1729 – 1800) served in the Royal Navy for five decades between 1740 and 1790, including assignments during the Seven Years’ War on the HMS Achilles and on the frigate HMS Venus. Reynolds was arguably England's most important Georgian artist.
