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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

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