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William Nelson Gardiner

(1766-1814), Engraver and bookseller

Artist associated with 52 portraits
An Irish engraver, Gardiner studied art at the Dublin Academy. Around 1790 he came to London and became a principal assistant to Francesco Bartolozzi. He engraved plates for Harding's Shakespeare, De Grammont's Memoirs and Diana Beauclerk's illustrations to Dryden's Fables. Gardiner also engraved important plates after Bunbury, Hamilton and Francis Wheatley. His portraits, in particular, were highly sought after by publishers such as Boydell. Despite his obvious talents as an engraver, it is reported that Gardiner led a restless life. In around 1800, he returned to Dublin and is said to have squandered all his money, committing suicide in 1814.

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Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  William Hoare - NPG 466

Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke

by William Nelson Gardiner, after William Hoare
watercolour, circa 1800, based on a work of 1763
NPG 466

Nathan Field, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG L269.B5.20

Nathan Field

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1790
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B5.20

John Robartes, 1st Earl of Radnor, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D27159

John Robartes, 1st Earl of Radnor

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
stipple engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D27159

Richard Cromwell, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  Samuel Cooper - NPG D28745

Richard Cromwell

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Samuel Cooper
stipple engraving, late 18th century
NPG D28745

Richard Cromwell, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  Samuel Cooper - NPG D28746

Richard Cromwell

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Samuel Cooper
stipple engraving, late 18th century
NPG D28746

John Robartes, 1st Earl of Radnor, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D29345

John Robartes, 1st Earl of Radnor

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
stipple engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D29345

Henry Howard, 6th Duke of Norfolk, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Sir Peter Lely - NPG D29346

Henry Howard, 6th Duke of Norfolk

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Sir Peter Lely
stipple engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D29346

Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Sir Peter Lely - NPG D29494

Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Sir Peter Lely
stipple engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D29494

Elizabeth Stanhope (née Butler), Countess of Chesterfield, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Sir Peter Lely - NPG D30527

Elizabeth Stanhope (née Butler), Countess of Chesterfield

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Sir Peter Lely
stipple engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D30527

Aemilia Butler (née van Nassau), Countess of Ossory, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Willem Wissing - NPG D30651

Aemilia Butler (née van Nassau), Countess of Ossory

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Willem Wissing
stipple engraving, late 18th century
NPG D30651

Mary Davis, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D30705

Mary Davis

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
stipple engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D30705

Sarah Wilson as Harriet in Holcroft's 'Seduction', by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  Edward Harding, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D4850

Sarah Wilson as Harriet in Holcroft's 'Seduction'

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by Edward Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
hand-coloured stipple engraving, published 1787
NPG D4850

Karl Friedrich Abel, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  Edward Harding, after  John Nixon - NPG D966

Karl Friedrich Abel

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by Edward Harding, after John Nixon
etching, published July 1787 (1787)
NPG D966

Karl Friedrich Abel, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  Edward Harding, after  John Nixon - NPG D14733

Karl Friedrich Abel

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by Edward Harding, after John Nixon
etching, published July 1787 (1787)
NPG D14733

John Wesley, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  Edward Harding, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D2978

John Wesley

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by Edward Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 10 March 1788
NPG D2978

King Henry VI, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  Edward Harding, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D23766

King Henry VI

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by Edward Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1790
NPG D23766

Elizabeth Woodville, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  Edward Harding - NPG D23803

Elizabeth Woodville

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by Edward Harding
stipple engraving, published 1 February 1790
NPG D23803

Nathan Field, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D28075

Nathan Field

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1790
NPG D28075

Anne Boleyn, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  Edward Harding, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  Unknown artist - NPG D33817

Anne Boleyn

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by Edward Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Unknown artist
stipple engraving, published 1790
NPG D33817

Sir Busick Harwood, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  Edward Harding, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D35557

Sir Busick Harwood

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by Edward Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple and line engraving, published 27 May 1790
NPG D35557

Richard Cromwell, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  Samuel Cooper - NPG D19917

Richard Cromwell

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Samuel Cooper
stipple engraving, published 1792
NPG D19917

Sir William Butts, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D24333

Sir William Butts

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1793
NPG D24333

King James II, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Sir Peter Lely, published by  E. & S. Harding - NPG D29309

King James II

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Sir Peter Lely, published by E. & S. Harding
stipple engraving, published 1793
NPG D29309

Elizabeth Bagot, by William Nelson Gardiner - NPG D30612

Elizabeth Bagot

by William Nelson Gardiner
stipple engraving, published 1793
NPG D30612

Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  E. & S. Harding, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  Sir Peter Lely - NPG D13877

Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by E. & S. Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Sir Peter Lely
stipple engraving, published 1 July 1793
NPG D13877

Henry Neville, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  E. & S. Harding, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D26055

Henry Neville

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by E. & S. Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1794
NPG D26055

Sir Thomas Lunsford, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  E. & S. Harding - NPG D27168

Sir Thomas Lunsford

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by E. & S. Harding
stipple engraving, published 1794
NPG D27168

Henry Purcell, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  E. & S. Harding, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D13860

Henry Purcell

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by E. & S. Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1 November 1794
NPG D13860

Sir Charles Hanbury Williams, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  E. & S. Harding, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D14772

Sir Charles Hanbury Williams

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by E. & S. Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1 December 1794
NPG D14772

John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  E. & S. Harding, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  Unknown artist - NPG D20284

John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by E. & S. Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Unknown artist
stipple engraving, published 1 October 1794 (circa 1665-1670)
NPG D20284

Henry Neville, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  E. & S. Harding, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D21180

Henry Neville

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by E. & S. Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1 November 1794
NPG D21180

Ralph Montagu, 1st Duke of Montagu, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  E. & S. Harding - NPG D30498

Ralph Montagu, 1st Duke of Montagu

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by E. & S. Harding
stipple engraving, published 1795
NPG D30498

Stephen Gardiner, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  E. & S. Harding, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D10717

Stephen Gardiner

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by E. & S. Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1 May 1795
NPG D10717

Tobias Rustat, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  E. & S. Harding, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  Sir Peter Lely - NPG D30012

Tobias Rustat

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by E. & S. Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Sir Peter Lely
stipple engraving, published 1796
NPG D30012

Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  Edward Harding, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  Samuel Cooper - NPG D41835

Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by Edward Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Samuel Cooper
stipple engraving, published 1 March 1797
NPG D41835

Edward Pococke, by William Nelson Gardiner, published by  University of Oxford: Oxford: UK, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D5538

Edward Pococke

by William Nelson Gardiner, published by University of Oxford: Oxford: UK, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 21 January 1797
NPG D5538

Sir Robert Shirley (Sherley), by Andrew Birrell, published by  Edward Harding, after  William Nelson Gardiner - NPG D33609

Sir Robert Shirley (Sherley)

by Andrew Birrell, published by Edward Harding, after William Nelson Gardiner
stipple and line engraving, published 1799
NPG D33609

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, by William Nelson Gardiner - NPG D25105

William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley

by William Nelson Gardiner
stipple engraving, possibly early 19th century
NPG D25105

Thomas Coventry, 1st Baron Coventry, by William Nelson Gardiner - NPG D26944

Thomas Coventry, 1st Baron Coventry

by William Nelson Gardiner
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D26944

Thomas Coventry, 1st Baron Coventry, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D26945

Thomas Coventry, 1st Baron Coventry

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D26945

Sidney Godolphin, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D27022

Sidney Godolphin

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D27022

Margaret Cavendish (née Lucas), Duchess of Newcastle upon Tyne, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Abraham Diepenbeeck - NPG D30192

Margaret Cavendish (née Lucas), Duchess of Newcastle upon Tyne

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Abraham Diepenbeeck
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D30192

Frances Teresa Stuart, Duchess of Richmond and Lennox, by William Nelson Gardiner, possibly after  Sir Peter Lely - NPG D30486

Frances Teresa Stuart, Duchess of Richmond and Lennox

by William Nelson Gardiner, possibly after Sir Peter Lely
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D30486

Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend, by Edward Harding, after  William Nelson Gardiner - NPG D27420

Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend

by Edward Harding, after William Nelson Gardiner
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D27420

Dorothy Viscountess Townshend, by Edward Harding, after  William Nelson Gardiner - NPG D31015

Dorothy Viscountess Townshend

by Edward Harding, after William Nelson Gardiner
stipple engraving, published 1802
NPG D31015

Galfridus Walpole, by Edward Harding, after  William Nelson Gardiner - NPG D27513

Galfridus Walpole

by Edward Harding, after William Nelson Gardiner
stipple engraving, published 1802
NPG D27513

Dorothy Viscountess Townshend, by Edward Harding, after  William Nelson Gardiner - NPG D27635

Dorothy Viscountess Townshend

by Edward Harding, after William Nelson Gardiner
stipple engraving, published 1802
NPG D27635

Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne, by Edward Harding, published by  William Coxe, after  William Nelson Gardiner - NPG D15093

Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne

by Edward Harding, published by William Coxe, after William Nelson Gardiner
stipple engraving, published 1 February 1802
NPG D15093

Martha Blount, by Charles Picart, published by  T. Cadell & W. Davies, after  William Nelson Gardiner - NPG D14073

Martha Blount

by Charles Picart, published by T. Cadell & W. Davies, after William Nelson Gardiner
stipple engraving, published 1 May 1807
NPG D14073

Elizabeth Hamilton, Countess de Gramont, by William Nelson Gardiner - NPG D30653

Elizabeth Hamilton, Countess de Gramont

by William Nelson Gardiner
stipple engraving, published 1808
NPG D30653

Sir John Glanville, by William Nelson Gardiner, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D18677

Sir John Glanville

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, circa 1890-1814
NPG D18677

Web image not currently available

Nathan Field

by William Nelson Gardiner, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Unknown artist
stipple engraving, published 1790
NPG D20553

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