Henry Byrd was born in Ireland in 1805. He lived and worked as a portrait painted in Arkansas from 1840-1865, and has become Arkansas's best-known early artist. According to unconfirmed family papers, he was one of the seven children of William Byrd and Ann Garrett of "Belmount Hall". He was a member in a family of painters. He, as well as his brothers, George and Frederick Bird, were listed as painters in the city directories from 1834 to 1844. Byrd married Sarah J. Updike in 1887 and lived in New York City. In 1841, the family moved to New Orleans. Byrd sought work in Arkansas by way of the Arkansas Gazette and moved his family then to Little Rock. In the Census of 1860, Byrd was listed as owning property worth 5 thousand dollars, and 7 other members in his household. Byrd was reported to have divorced 3 times and married 4; and worked in New Orleans and became a common name in the Picayune.

Byrd signed only two paintings known at presenty, but tradition assign to the prolific limner more than a hundred unsigned portraits hanging in private homes and public buildings. At the same time, the painter's biography is known only in a fragmentary and sometimes distorted way. Despite the great bumber of Arkansas paintings attributed to Byrd, his orally transmitted name was confused for two generations. Byrd painted widely in Union and surrounding counties and parishes. Many portraits attributed to Byrd survive among Union County families. Byrd died in Carrollton on September 26, 1884, at the age of 79. He was celebrated in death by many.

Works by Byrd:

Portrait of Hattie Lee Kit
1850
oil on canvas
Louisiana State Museum

link to Lousiana State Museum with more info on this work.

Reverend Benjamin Morgan Palmer
1866
oil on canvas
Louisiana State Museum

Link to Louisiana State Museum for this work.

Portrait of Albina "Coon" Lyon (1846-1871
Oil on Canvas
c. 1850
H: 34.125", W: 28"
Historic Arkansas Museum
Gift of Betty West

Link to Historic Arkansas Museum