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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.

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Sir Christopher Hatton, attributed to Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  Nicholas Hilliard - NPG 2413

Sir Christopher Hatton

attributed to Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Nicholas Hilliard
watercolour, 1848, based on a work of circa 1588-1591
NPG 2413

Sir Geoffrey Palmer, 1st Bt, by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  Sir Peter Lely - NPG 2403

Sir Geoffrey Palmer, 1st Bt

by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Sir Peter Lely
watercolour, circa 1765-1809, based on a work of circa 1663
NPG 2403

William Bullock, copy attributed to Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  Thomas Johnson - NPG 2540

William Bullock

copy attributed to Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Thomas Johnson
watercolour, late 18th century, based on a work of circa 1710
NPG 2540

Sir Thomas Overbury, by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after  Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger - NPG 3090(1)

Sir Thomas Overbury

by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, after Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger
watercolour
NPG 3090(1)

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

Henry Harris as Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, engraved as Joseph Harris, by Edward Harding, published by  E. & S. Harding, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG L269.B5.28

Henry Harris as Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, engraved as Joseph Harris

by Edward Harding, published by E. & S. Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple, published 1793
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B5.28

Robert Baddeley, by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG 2541

Robert Baddeley

by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
watercolour and ink on paper, engraved 1794
NPG 2541

William Cartwright, by R. Clamp, published by  E. & S. Harding, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, possibly after  John Greenhill - NPG L269.B5.13

William Cartwright

by R. Clamp, published by E. & S. Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, possibly after John Greenhill
stipple engraving, published 1 May 1794
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B5.13

Mary Ann Harding, by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG 4615a

Mary Ann Harding

by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
watercolour on off-white card, 1803
NPG 4615a

Mary, Queen of Scots, by Edward Harding, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D25053

Mary, Queen of Scots

by Edward Harding, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, possibly late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D25053

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

Charlotte Stanley (née de La Trémoille), Countess of Derby, by Thomas Nugent, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D28418

Charlotte Stanley (née de La Trémoille), Countess of Derby

by Thomas Nugent, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, late 18th century
NPG D28418

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

George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol, by R. Clamp, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D28789

George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol

by R. Clamp, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, late 18th century
NPG D28789

King Charles II, by Andrew Birrell, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D29279

King Charles II

by Andrew Birrell, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D29279

Henry, Duke of Gloucester, by R. Clamp, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D29323

Henry, Duke of Gloucester

by R. Clamp, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D29323

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

Sir Henry Terne, by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, or by  Edward Harding - NPG D29945

Sir Henry Terne

by Silvester (Sylvester) Harding, or by Edward Harding
stipple engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D29945

Francisco Corbetta (Francisque Corbette), by Ignatius Joseph van den Berghe, after  Silvester (Sylvester) Harding - NPG D30455

Francisco Corbetta (Francisque Corbette)

by Ignatius Joseph van den Berghe, after Silvester (Sylvester) Harding
stipple engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D30455

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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.