James Hardy Jnr. lived and worked in Bristol in the 19th century.   He was born into a family of artists in Chichester in 1832, the eldest son of James Hardy Senior, a well-known landscape and portrait painter.  He was also the elder brother of Heywood Hardy, the distinguished portrait, animal and sporting artist, and cousin of Frederick Daniel Hardy, who was a leading member of the Cranbrook Colony of artists. 
 
James Junior himself is well known for his landscapes, still-life and rustic scenes, the images mostly closely associated with his name are pictures of dogs with game.  He worked in both watercolour and oil, and his work is characterised by strong colour, and attention to detail and texture.  He exhibited in London from 1853 – 1888, particularly at the Royal Academy between 1862 – 1886, but also at the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, the British Institution and the Society of British Artists, Suffolk Street.  He became a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours in 1877.

Sales of his work were held in his lifetime at Christie’s on March 9th 1878, and then after his death in April 1884.  His work is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum and in Cardiff.

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