Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
(1745-1809), Artist; publisherArtist associated with 221 portraits
Sylvester Harding was a miniaturist and engraver, born in Newcastle-under-Lyme and sent to London to an apprenticeship with a hairdresser as a boy. He ran away at the age of fourteen and spent several years in a company of strolling players before embarking upon a successful career as a miniature painter in 1775. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1777 to 1787. Harding also collaborated on illustrated publications with his brother, a librarian, and his son, an engraver. Published works by Harding include Illustrations from Shakespeare, The Biographical Mirror and Memoirs of Count de Grammont.
by William Nelson Gardiner, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
stipple engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D30705
Louis Duras, 2nd Earl of Feversham
by Burrell, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Isaac Beckett, after John Riley
stipple engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D30856
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by R. Clamp, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
stipple engraving, late 18th century
NPG D31531
by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after L. Sullivan
line and stipple engraving, late 18th century
NPG D1030
by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Simon de Passe
pen and ink and wash, late 18th century (1620)
NPG D124
Charles Sackville, 6th Earl of Dorset
by R. Clamp, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
stipple engraving, late 18th century
NPG D1246
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
by R. Clamp, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
stipple engraving, late 18th century
NPG D16642
possibly by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Unknown artist
watercolour, circa 1775-1800
NPG D126
possibly by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Unknown artist
watercolour, circa 1775-1800
NPG D19591
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
published by Edward Evans, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, circa 1775-1800
NPG D20134
by William Humphrey, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
mezzotint, published 1777
NPG D1657
by William Humphrey, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
mezzotint, published 1777
NPG D1658
by James Parker, published by Edward Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1786
NPG D8431
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
by William Nelson Gardiner, published by Edward Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 10 March 1788
NPG D2978
by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, published by Edward Harding
stipple engraving, published 6 March 1789
NPG D16733
by James Parker, published by Edward Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, 1 June 1790
NPG D23741
by William Nelson Gardiner, published by Edward Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1790
NPG D23766
Unknown sitter engraved as King Henry VII when Earl of Richmond
by James Parker, published by Edward Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Unknown artist
stipple engraving, published 1 November 1790
NPG D23862
by Andrew Birrell, published by Edward Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1790
NPG D23864
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Mr.E.P.Daly
17 April 2018, 17:27
Sylvester Harding painted DavidMurray,7th Viscount Stormont around 1790-91, who would later become 2nd Earl Mansfield. Amongst his many titles Lord Stormont was Chief Justice General of Scotland and a Knight of the Thistle. He was also the uncle of Dido Elizabeth Belle as his cousin was also an aristocrat by the name of Sir John Lindsay KB,Prince of Arcot, Dido's father.
They were both the nephews of William Murray,Lord Mansfield and Lord Chief Justice of England & Wales. His seat was at Kenwood House, Hampstead, then in Middlesex where Lord Stormont was a regular visitor. Dido was raised there with her cousin Elizabeth Mary Murray who was Lord Stormont's daughter from an earlier marriage.