Frederick Daniel Hardy
Encyclopedia
Frederick Daniel Hardy was an English genre painter and member of the Cranbrook Colony
.
in Berkshire
, one of six children of George Hardy (b. Ca. 1796), a musician to George IV
, Queen Adelaide
and Queen Victoria in the Royal household at Windsor. Frederick enrolled at the Academy of Music, Hanover Square
, at the age of seventeen. He studied for three years, but finally abandoned music for art, following his eldest brother George Hardy (1822-1909), an established painter.
Hardy remained in Windsor until his marriage on 11 March 1852 to Rebecca Sophia Dorrofield (c.1828–1906). After living for some years at Snell's Wood, near Amersham
, Buckinghamshire
, they settled at 2 Waterloo Place, Cranbrook, Kent
in 1854, where they stayed until 1875, moving first to Kensington
, London, then returning to Cranbrook about 1893. The marriage produced five sons and a daughter.
Like Webster
, his mentor who joined him at Cranbrook in 1857 (and was related to Frederick's mother) Hardy specialised in light-hearted scenes depicting children in detailed Victorian rooms, and also painted portraits. He exhibited ninety-three pictures at the Royal Academy
from 1851 to 1898 and five at the British Institution
between 1851 and 1856.
Hardy died in Cranbrook in April 1911 and was buried beside his wife in St Dunstan's churchyard. He left his estate to daughter Amelia Gertrude Hardy (1865-1952), also an artist who lived and painted in Cranbrook into the 1930s.
Hardy's artwork is to be found in numerous public collections, notably at the Wolverhampton Art Gallery
which holds nineteen of his paintings.
Cranbrook Colony
The Cranbrook Colony was a group of artists who settled in Cranbrook, Kent from 1854 onwards and were inspired by seventeenth century Dutch and Flemish painters...
.
Life
Hardy was born in WindsorWindsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, one of six children of George Hardy (b. Ca. 1796), a musician to George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
, Queen Adelaide
Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen
Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and of Hanover as spouse of William IV of the United Kingdom. Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, is named after her.-Early life:Adelaide was born on 13 August 1792 at Meiningen, Thuringia, Germany...
and Queen Victoria in the Royal household at Windsor. Frederick enrolled at the Academy of Music, Hanover Square
Hanover Square, London
Hanover Square, London, is a square in Mayfair, London W1, England, situated to the south west of Oxford Circus, the major junction where Oxford Street meets Regent Street....
, at the age of seventeen. He studied for three years, but finally abandoned music for art, following his eldest brother George Hardy (1822-1909), an established painter.
Hardy remained in Windsor until his marriage on 11 March 1852 to Rebecca Sophia Dorrofield (c.1828–1906). After living for some years at Snell's Wood, near Amersham
Amersham
Amersham is a market town and civil parish within Chiltern district in Buckinghamshire, England, 27 miles north west of London, in the Chiltern Hills. It is part of the London commuter belt....
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, they settled at 2 Waterloo Place, Cranbrook, Kent
Cranbrook, Kent
Cranbrook is a small town in Kent in South East England which was granted a charter in 1290 by Archbishop Peckham, allowing it to hold a market in the High Street. Located on the Maidstone to Hastings road, it is five miles north of Hawkhurst. The smaller settlements of Swattenden, Colliers...
in 1854, where they stayed until 1875, moving first to Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
, London, then returning to Cranbrook about 1893. The marriage produced five sons and a daughter.
Like Webster
Thomas Webster (painter)
Thomas Webster , was an English genre painter, who lived for many years at the artists' colony in Cranbrook.-Life:Webster was born in Ranelagh Street, Pimlico, London...
, his mentor who joined him at Cranbrook in 1857 (and was related to Frederick's mother) Hardy specialised in light-hearted scenes depicting children in detailed Victorian rooms, and also painted portraits. He exhibited ninety-three pictures at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
from 1851 to 1898 and five at the British Institution
British Institution
The British Institution was a private 19th-century society in London formed to exhibit the works of living and dead artists; it was also known as the Pall Mall Picture Galleries or the British Gallery...
between 1851 and 1856.
Hardy died in Cranbrook in April 1911 and was buried beside his wife in St Dunstan's churchyard. He left his estate to daughter Amelia Gertrude Hardy (1865-1952), also an artist who lived and painted in Cranbrook into the 1930s.
Works
Hardy's works - such as "A Quartette Party" and "Reading the Will" - commanded high prices during his lifetime. Other paintings include: "Still life" (1852), "Expectation" (1854" "A Christmas Party" (1857), "The Foreign Guest" (1859), "Children playing at doctors" (1863), "Coal Heavers" (1865), "Baby's birthday" (1867), "The Late arrival" (1873), "Fatherless" (1876), "A misdeal" (1877), "A music party" (1879), "Tragedy" (1880) and "The pet lamb" (1888)Hardy's artwork is to be found in numerous public collections, notably at the Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Wolverhampton Art Gallery is located in the City of Wolverhampton, in the West Midlands, United Kingdom. The building was funded and constructed by local contractor Philip Horsman , and built on land provided by the Council...
which holds nineteen of his paintings.
Further reading
- Alan E. H. Emery, Marcia L. H. Emery. Mother and child care in art (Royal Society of Medicine Press, 2006) pp. 82-3.
- Tim Barringer, Mary Cowling, Diane Sachko Macleod. Paintings from the Reign of Victoria: The Royal Holloway Collection, London (Frances Lincoln, 2008) p. 202.
External links
- Works by F D Hardy (Wolverhampton Art Gallery)
- F D Hardy (Art Renewal Center Museum)
- The second born (Christie'sChristie'sChristie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
) - The Tinderbox (Christie'sChristie'sChristie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
) - After the Party (Christie'sChristie'sChristie's is an art business and a fine arts auction house.- History :The official company literature states that founder James Christie conducted the first sale in London, England, on 5 December 1766, and the earliest auction catalogue the company retains is from December 1766...
) - 1891 Census of Cranbrook