Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hugford, Ignazio Enrico
HUGFORD, IGNAZIO ENRICO (1703–1778), painter, was born of English parents at Florence in 1703. He studied painting under Anton Domenico Gabbiani, and eventually became a painter of some repute in Florence, though his paintings had no real merit. He painted a `St. Raphael' as an altarpiece for the church of S. Felicità in Florence, various small pictures for the grand duke, and some for the monastery of Vallombrosa at Forli. Hugford has better claim to repute as an art critic and expert, and as a teacher in the academy of St. Luke at Florence. Among his pupils was F. Bartolozzi, R.A. [q.v.] Hugford published in 1762 'Raccolta di cento Pensieri diversi di Anton Domenico Gabbiani, Pittor Fiorentino,' which contains one etching by Hugford himself. He died at Florence in 1778, aged 75.
Hugford, Ferdinando Enrico (1696-1771), elder brother of the above, also studied painting, but eventually became a monk at Vallombrosa. Father Hugford is well known as one of the chief promoters of the art of scagliola, which he learnt from a monk of the abbey of S. Reparata di Marradi. He brought this art to the highest pitch of excellence which it attained. His best pupil was Lamberto Gori, who learnt drawing from Ignazio Hugford. Father Hugford died in 1771.
[Rosini's Storia della Pittura; Pilkington's Dict. of Painters; Zani's Enciclopedia; Tuer's Bartolozzi and his Works.]