Search the Collection

Silvester (Sylvester) Harding

(1745-1809), Artist; publisher

Artist 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.

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Make a donation Close

List Thumbnail

Anne Bacon (née Cooke), Lady Bacon, by Henry Richard Cook, published by  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D28114

Anne Bacon (née Cooke), Lady Bacon

by Henry Richard Cook, published by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1810
NPG D28114

John Russell, by and published by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D29916

John Russell

by and published by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1810
NPG D29916

Lady Henrietta ('Harriett') Berkeley, by Henry Richard Cook, published by  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  George Perfect Harding, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D31000

Lady Henrietta ('Harriett') Berkeley

by Henry Richard Cook, published by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after George Perfect Harding, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
stipple engraving, published 1810
NPG D31000

Possibly Frances Devereux (née Walsingham), Countess of Essex, by Henry Richard Cook, published by and after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  Nicholas Hilliard - NPG D2313

Possibly Frances Devereux (née Walsingham), Countess of Essex

by Henry Richard Cook, published by and after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Nicholas Hilliard
line engraving, published 1 March 1810 (circa 1590)
NPG D2313

Sir Dudley Digges, by Henry Richard Cook, published by and after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D8760

Sir Dudley Digges

by Henry Richard Cook, published by and after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1810
NPG D8760

Catherine Douglas (née Hyde), Duchess of Queensberry, by and published by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  John Ogborne - NPG D14123

Catherine Douglas (née Hyde), Duchess of Queensberry

by and published by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after John Ogborne
stipple engraving, published 1 February 1810
NPG D14123

David Erskine Baker, by Henry Richard Cook, published by and after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D14504

David Erskine Baker

by Henry Richard Cook, published by and after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1 April 1810
NPG D14504

Esther Johnson, by Henry Richard Cook, published by  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D15514

Esther Johnson

by Henry Richard Cook, published by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1 March 1810
NPG D15514

Fabian Philips, by George Perfect Harding, published by  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D29892

Fabian Philips

by George Perfect Harding, published by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1814
NPG D29892

King Charless II & John Rose, by Robert Grave, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D30478

King Charless II & John Rose

by Robert Grave, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
line engraving, published 1823
NPG D30478

Jane Myddelton (née Needham), by Sir George Scharf, after  Ignatius Joseph van den Berghe, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D22543

Jane Myddelton (née Needham)

by Sir George Scharf, after Ignatius Joseph van den Berghe, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
pen and ink, circa 1857-1895
NPG D22543

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

Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby, by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D2139

Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby

by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
pencil, pen and ink and wash
NPG D2139

Web image not currently available

Nathan Field

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

Web image not currently available

Richard Tarlton

by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Unknown artist
stipple engraving, published 1792
NPG D6921

Web image not currently available

Richard Tarlton

by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Unknown artist
stipple engraving, published 1792
NPG D6922

Web image not currently available

Edward Progers

by Schenecker, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1793
NPG D5562

Web image not currently available

Henry Harris as Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, engraved as Joseph Harris

by Edward Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1793
NPG D11013

Web image not currently available

William Parsons as Alscrip

by James Parker, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, published 1795
NPG D8432

Related People

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.

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.