In 1768 a rift developed in the Society of Artists of Great Britain. A faction led by Sir William Chambers, at the suggestion of Barret, petitioned the King for the foundation of the Royal Academy. Barret is mentioned as a nominated member in the foundation document. Barret specialised particularly in wild and mountainous natural landscapes; of the 31 paintings he showed at the Royal Academy between 1769 and 1782, more than a third depicted such scenery. He very occasionally undertook portraits, an example of which is the portrait of William Constable at Burton Constable Hall. He also painted a number of pictures of animals such as the water spaniel belonging to Lord Edward Bentinck, that was exhibited at the Society of Artists of Great Britain in 1768.