Portrait of Dr. Philip Barraud (1758-1830)

Date1821

Attributed to William Dunlap 1766 - 1839

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsOverall (unframed): 30 3/8 x 25 1/8in. (77.2 x 63.8cm)

Credit LineGift of Benjamin Baker

Object number2016-112

DescriptionA half-length portrait of a middle-aged man with grey blond hair and pale blue eyes. He wears a dark suit with a white, painterly rendered stock. He is seated with his arm draped over the back of a green painted chair with stiles turned in imitation of bamboo. The background is a scumbled purplish brown.Label TextDr. Philip Barraud (1757-1830) was the eldest son of Daniel (2016-111) and Catherine Curle Barraud (1987-20). He was raised in Norfolk, but moved to Williamsburg by 1782. During his residency in Williamsburg, Barraud occupied a home on Francis Street (now one of the 89 original structures maintained by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation). Dr. Barraud married Ann Blaws Hansford (1760-1836) on July 22, 1783, around the time of his appearance in Williamsburg records. The couple were depicted in their old age in two portraits by William James Hubard, completed around 1828-1830, which are also in the Colonial Williamsburg collection (1988-221 & 222). Barraud was active as a member of the William and Mary Board of Visitors (1791) and served the Public Hospital 1791-1799, at which time he relocated to Norfolk in order to accept the position of superintendent of the Marine Hospital.

This painting of Dr. Barraud is likely the work of artist William Dunlap (and has been loosely attributed to him in the past). Dunlap’s diary records his time in Norfolk and the citation “Dr. Barraud” appears as an entry on May 30th, 1821. Dunlap also spent the evening of Sunday, January 14th, 1821 at Barraud’s house.
ProvenanceAlthough not documented, the portrait appears to have passed from the subject to his daughter Lelianna (Lelia Ann) Barraud Baker (1805-1893) to her son Major Richard Henry Baker II (1826-1911) to his son Dr. Benjamin May Baker (1865-1934) to his son Dr. Benjamin May Baker, Jr. (1901-2003) to his son Benjamin M. Baker, CWF's consignor.