Following an unsuccessful stint as a painter in Hertfordshire, the English born Eva Barrett moved to Rome in 1913. It was there she decided to establish her profession as a photographer, believing it 'was better to be a first-rate photographer than a second-rate artist'. In Rome, Barrett devised a method of producing photographic portraiture reminiscent of artistic sketches. With her small half-plate camera, Barrett photographed the wives and children of foreign ambassadors, leading to her commission to photograph the Italian Royal family. From this point forward, Barrett received numerous commissions from European Royalty across Belgium, Sweden, Greece and Italy.