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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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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

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