James Duffield Harding

1798 – 1863

English painter, engraver, and writer. He received his first lessons in painting from his father, J. Harding (d. 1846), who was a pupil of Paul Sandby. By 1807 the family had moved to Greenwich where Harding spent much of his time drawing and painting in Greenwich Park. In 1811, at the age of 14, he exhibited for the first time at the Royal Academy. He had lessons in watercolour painting from Samuel Prout (1783-1852) and in 1816 he won the Society of Arts silver medal for landscape painting. He also learnt engraving from John Pye (1782-1874) and subsequently became a skilled engraver and lithographer. He was also largely engaged in teaching, counting John Ruskin amongst his pupils. Harding made his first trip to Italy in 1824, with Charles Hullmandel (1789-1850), and he made numerous trips to the Continent throughout his lifetime. He frequently contributed to the exhibitions of the Water-Colour Society, of which he became an associate in 1821 and a full member the following year. He published several books developing his views of art - amongst others: The Tourist in Italy (1831), The Tourist in France (1834), The Park and the Forest (1841), The Principles and the Practice of Art (1845), Elementary Art (1846), Scotland Delineated in a Series of Views (1847) and Lessons on Art (1849).

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