Website to catalogue work of 19th century Leamington artist set up by long-time admirer

Thomas Baker by Octavius Oakley (1800 - 1867). Reproduced by kind permission of Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery.

With the help of Birmingham museums and Leamington Art Gallery, Robert Mulraine has set up the web site Catalogue Raisonné of Thomas Baker of Leamington 1808 - 1864.

Baker, a landscape artist and watercolourist, kept a series of diaries listing his oil paintings from 1829 to his death in 1864.

In many instances the entries include a thumbnail sketch of the finished painting, and details of title, location, medium used, exhibition and sale history.

Great Hall Kenilworth Castle 1862. Number 781 in Thomas Bakers diary. Photo courtesy of Leamington Art Gallery and Museum.

Mr Mulraine, who has been an admirer of Baker’s works since he saw an exhibition of his art in Leamington more than 30 years ago, said: “This site I hope will be of help and interest to other admirers of Thomas Baker including art historians and researchers.

“The site will be continually updated as and when paintings come to light.

“The diaries describe 901 of his paintings and so far I have located just 300, so there are a lot of paintings still to be found. I am sure that there are many readers who may own paintings by Thomas Baker which would greatly help the compilation of the online catalogue.

“The site is completely free to use by anyone at anytime

The village of Honningham 1861. Number 744 in Thomas Bakers diary. Image courtesy of Leamington Art Gallery and Museum.

“I have been amazed at receiving requests for help in identifying paintings of his from all over the world - America, France, Germany, and even Australia.”

Thomas Baker was born in 1809 in Harborne, Birmingham.

He lived there until the age of 27 studying under the artist Joseph Vincent Barber.

Barber probably encouraged him to move to Leamington where he would spend the next thirty years of his life.