William Barraud was an English animal painter and illustrator. Born in Lambeth in London, he was one of 17 children of William Francis Barraud (1783-1833) and Sophia (née) Hull.
Barraud became a pupil of artist Abraham Cooper and as an animal artist he specialised in painting horses and dogs. He exhibited work at the Royal Academy from 1829 to 1850, the British Institution from 1828 to 1849, the Society of British Artists and at other venues. His work was popular with huntsmen and dog-fanciers. He also produced some historical and landscape paintings.
His younger brother, Henry Barraud, was also a notable artist with whom he shared a studio and collaborated on many works, William painting the animals and Henry the figures. Several of these joint works were exhibited at the Royal Academy. The brothers also produced a book together entitled ‘Sketches of Figures and Animals’ (H. Graves and Co. c. 1850). William also collaborated on another book with fellow artist Thomas Fairland (1804-1852) called ‘The book of animals drawn from nature” (C. Tilt, 1846).