Chester Harding (1792-1866)
Chester Harding was an early American painter born in Conway, Massachusetts. He grew up in New York and at the age of 21 became a drummer in the militia. He held a number of odd jobs painting houses and signs, and taught himself how to paint and draw.
Eventually, Harding went on the road and became an itinerant portrait painter, working all over New England and mainly in Philadelphia. Harding also traveled to the south and Missouri and Kentucky in search of patrons, and spent a great deal of time in Massachusetts.
After securing a number of commissions, Harding had enough money to attend classes at the Philadelphia Academy of Design. Later, he traveled to London where he set up a studio. While in London, he found great success as a portrait painter and found patrons among the royals and the nobles.
Even though Harding did not have a great deal of experience and education, he quickly became a fairly popular and in demand portrait painter. Once he returned to the United States, Harding settled in Boston and continued to paint portraits of wealthy and prominent men and women of his time until his death in 1866.
Today, Harding’s portraits are housed in public and private collections all over the United States and England, and perhaps in your own home. Still wondering about an heirloom portrait hanging in your family’s estate? Contact us…it could be by Chester Harding.
