James Duffield Harding OWS

1798 - 1863

The son of a drawing master who himself had been a pupil of Paul Sandby, James Dufield Harding was born in Deptford. After initial tuition from his father, he received lessons from Samuel Prout and, after being apprenticed to an engraver, he joined the Society of Painters in Water-Colours in 1821, exhibiting there for the rest of his career. Harding was an outstanding teacher, his lithographs being used for lessons and wider distribution as teaching aids. Harding's highest-profile student was John Ruskin, with whom he travelled to Italy. As well as Italian scenes, Harding worked extensively in England, often utilising chalks, graphite and white heightening on coloured papers to great effect, an approach that mirrored his work as a lithographer.

3 ITEMS