James Duffield Harding was a draughtsman, watercolourist, topographer, lithographer, etcher and landscape painter. He was born in Deptford, son of an engraver and drawing master. 

Harding studied watercolour under Samuel Prout and exhibited at the R.A. from 1811. He was awarded a silver medal by the Society of Arts in 1816 and in 1818 he exhibited for the first time with the Society of Painters in Water Colours. He was elected an associate of the society in 1820 and a member in 1821. He resigned in 1847 but rejoined in 1856.

Bibliography

R.K.Engen, 'Dictionary of Victorian Wood Engravers,' 1985
R K Engen, 'Dictionary of Victorian Engravers, Print Publishers ans Their Works', 1979
DNB

Bibliographic attribution: The British Museum Source