Chester Harding | |
|---|---|
 Harding,c. 1860 – c. 1865 | |
| Born | (1792-09-01)September 1, 1792 Conway, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | April 1, 1866(1866-04-01) (aged 73) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Philadelphia Academy of Design |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 9 |
Chester Harding (September 1, 1792 – April 1, 1866)[1] was an American portraitpainter known for his paintings of prominent figures in the United States and England.
Harding was born inConway, Massachusetts, on September 1, 1792. He was the fourth of twelve children born to his mother, Olive (née Smith) Harding, and his father, Abiel Harding.[2] He was over 6'3" in height. His family moved toCaledonia, New York, when he was fourteen-years-old. Self-sufficient at a young age, his initial trade was that of awoodturner.[3]
In theWar of 1812, he marched as a drummer with the militia to theSt Lawrence.[1] He became subsequently chair-maker, peddler, inn-keeper, and house-painter, painting signs inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He worked at this latter occupation a year, when acquaintance with a traveling portrait painter led him to attempt that art.[1] Having succeeded in producing a crude portrait of his wife, he devoted himself enthusiastically to the profession.[4]
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He painted several other portraits at Pittsburgh, and then went toParis, Kentucky, where he finished 100 portraits in six months at $25 each. He made enough money to take him to the schools at thePennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. He then established himself inSt. Louis, and eventually went on the road as an itinerant portrait painter. In August 1823, he went to England and set up a studio inLondon, and spent three years in studying and painting. He met with great success, painting royalty and the nobility, and, despite the lack of an early education and social experience, he became a favorite in all circles.[3]
On his return to theUnited States in 1826, he settled in Boston, initially residing inBeacon Hill, Boston, Massachusetts, in what became known as theChester Harding House, aNational Historic Landmark which now houses theBoston Bar Association. He stayed there until 1830. In 1845, after the death of his wife, he went to England again for a second nine-month visit.[3] After his return, he resided inSpringfield, Massachusetts, spending his winters frequently in St. Louis or in some of the southern cities.[5] In 1828, he was elected into theNational Academy of Design as an Honorary Academician.[6]
He wroteMy Egotistography, which was privately printed.[6]
He painted portraits of many of the prominent men and women of his time. Among the people who sat for him wereJames Madison,James Monroe,John Quincy Adams,John Marshall,Nicholas Brown Jr.,Dudley Leavitt Pickman,Charles Carroll,William Wirt,Henry Clay,John C. Calhoun,Washington Allston,Stephen Van Rensselaer,[7]Samuel Rogers, Sir Archibald Allison, and theDukes of Norfolk[which?],Hamilton[which?], andSussex. Harding is the only known painter who paintedDaniel Boone from life.[8] His last work was a portrait of Gen.William T. Sherman.[1] His portrait ofDaniel Webster went to the Bar Association of New York, and that ofJohn Randolph to theCorcoran Gallery atWashington, D.C.[9]
On February 14, 1815, Harding was married to Caroline Matilda Woodruff (1795–1845) nearCaledonia inLivingston County, New York.[2] Caroline was the daughter of James Woodruff. Together, they were the parents of nine children, including four sons, two each who fought on opposing sides in theCivil War:
His wife died on August 27, 1845, inSpringfield, Massachusetts.[2] Harding died in Boston on April 1, 1866,[1] and is buried inSpringfield Cemetery in Springfield.[12]
Through his son Horace, he was the paternal grandfather ofWilliam P. G. Harding (1864–1930), theChairman of the Federal Reserve and President of theFederal Reserve Bank of Boston,[13] andChester Harding (1866–1936), theGovernor of the Panama Canal Zone from 1917 to 1921 who, late in life, also became a noted portrait painter.[14]
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