The great master of Nature - painter and teacher James Duffield Harding

Hello dear Steemit friends ! Today I would like to present you James Duffield Harding b.1798 , English landscape painter, lithographer and teacher, author of a large number of drawing manuals.

'' Rapid Falls '', Pencil, black chalk and coloured washes on grey paper , Image Source

Illustration 30 in the book Lessons on Trees , Lithograph , Image Source

Harding was one of the greatest Landscape and topographical painters, engraver and lithographer. When he was only 18 he was awarded a silver medal by the Society of Arts for an original landscape.

'' Ponte Santa Trinità, Florence '' , Pencil and watercolor , Image Source

Harding was a pioneer in the movement for art instructions in schools and for the training of art masters. He published many books on teaching drawing – all supporting direct observation of nature rather than tricks. He taught Ruskin, among others, and when the first volume of '' Modern Painters '' appeared in 1843, many of Harding's old pupils recognised his lesson “on skies”, “on water”, “on mountains”, etc. and especially his theory that tree-drawing schould be based upon the laws of tree growth. Ruskin said that, next to Turner, Harding was “unquestionably the greatest master of foliage in Europe.”

Hand-coloured lithograph from a collection of prints " The Park and the Forest ", Image Source

Illustration 17 in the book Lessons on Trees , Lithograph , Image Source

Since 1824 Harding travelled a lot. He visited Italy, Verona, Venice and Mantua. His illustrations in the '' Landscape Annual '' made him one of the best known artists of his days.

'' South Brent '', Graphite on paper , Image Source

FineArtNow is a place for Artists and Art-Lovers.
The Idea of this blog is to bring creative people and art enthusiasts together and to increase the reach of Steemit - Artists !
Many Thanks for Your upvotes , comments and resteems !
We allways support our friends ! See you soon !