The son of an apothecary in Soho, Barron gained some fame as a painter and amateur musician. He was a student of the renowned Joshua Reynolds until 1766, and in the 1780s had some paintings exhibited at the Royal Academy. He was "considered the best amateur [violin] performer of his time."1
- 1Scholes, Percy A. (1948). The Great Dr. Burney, His Life, His Travels, His Works, His Family and His Friends, Vol. 1. Oxford University Press. p. 98
Boswell mentions meeting Barron in the company of Lord Eglinton on May 4, 1763. Barron was described as "a boy of great genius both as a painter and a musician, [who] will probably be a man of great eminence. But at present he is a little black trifling being, so that his being in my company is a punishment to me". Although Barron was most likely very talented, he made no name for himself - which apparently was rather usual for students of Reynolds, who despite being a great painter was definitely not a good teacher.1
- 1Hudson, Derek B. (1958). Sir Joshua Reynolds, a Personal Study. Geoffrey Bles. p. 119