Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Harraden, Richard

1346774Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 24 — Harraden, Richard1890John Willis Clark

HARRADEN, RICHARD (1756–1838), artist and engraver, was born in London in 1756. His family came from Flintshire, and originally bore the name of Hawarden. His father was a physician. He spent some time in Paris, but left on the taking of the Bastille. On returning to England he worked as an artist in London till 1798, when he removed to Cambridge. In old age he resided at Trumpington, near Cambridge, where he died 2 June 1838, aged 82.

In 1797-8 he published 'Six Large Views of Cambridge' (subsequently extended to seven), about fifteen inches high by twenty-two inches wide, of considerable historical value; in 1800 twenty-four smaller views of the university and town, bound in an oblong volume; prefaced by ten pages of descriptive letterpress (a work of little merit); in 1803 'Costume of the various Orders in the University of Cambridge,' a series of coloured lithographs with descriptive letterpress; and in 1811, in conjunction with his son, R. B. Harraden (see below), a quarto volume called 'Cantabrigia Depicta; a series of Engravings representing the most picturesque and interesting Edifices in the University of Cambridge.'

Harraden, Richard Bankes (1778-1862), son of the above, made the drawings of Cambridge for his father's work, 'Cantabrigia Depicta,' and in 1830 published an oblong volume called ' Illustrations of the University of Cambridge.' It contains fifty-eight views, of which twenty-four had appeared in the former work. Harraden was a member of the Society of British Artists from 1824 to 1849. He died at Cambridge 17 Nov. 1862, aged 84.

[Arch. Hist, of the Univ. of Cambridge, by R. Willis and J. W. Clark, 1886, i. cxv-xvni.]

J. W. C-k.