Jacques Barraband (1767 – 1809) was born in France. He’s known for his life-like renderings of tropical birds. Barraband was a botanical and zoological illustrator who’s regarded as one of the best artists of the late 18th century. His illustration was considered the most accurate ones made during his time and his images were based on mounted specimens. Barraband’s father worked in a local textile factory and Barraband also worked there briefly after studying art at the local school. The school where he studied was famed for producing several fine artists including Francis Roby de Faureix and many others. Barraband later moved to Paris, where he worked at carpet and tapestry stores and studied art under Joseph-Laurent Malaine at l’Academie royale de peinture. His most famous work revolves around the illustrations he developed to accompany François LeVaillant’s scientific studies.
LeVaillant was a French explorer, author, zoological collector, naturalist, and noted ornithologist. In 1798, during the French exposition, Barraband produced some paintings for Savonnerie and Gobelins which were carpet manufacturers, and for Dihl and Gerhard, the porcelain makers. He also illustrated a book on Egypt by Fournier and made illustrations of insects for Sonnini, the French naturalist. Some of his most famous works are birds of paradise, toucans, barbets, sugarbirds, bee-eaters, trogons, and turacos. He did all these to illustrate scientific studies of François Le Vaillant. He was hired by Napoleon I to decorate a banquet hall at St. Cloud. His art was and still is popular to date. That’s why they can be found in almost all corners of the world.
