I was going to mention (can't think why I didn't) that I found it odd someone felt the nuances were reversed. I think my usage (one of the rare extremely instances where I remember being taught a distinction) accords with what I see and hear around me: 'barbaric torture' sounds right, as does 'a barbarous, unlettered state', which illustrate my connotations.

I would now go to the OED and count and sort the quotations, but the library opposite is shut on Wednesdays.