Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Edridge, Henry
EDRIDGE, HENRY (1769–1821), miniature-painter, born at Paddington in August 1769, was son of a tradesman in St. James's, Westminster. He was educated first by his mother, and afterwards in a school at Acton. He was articled at the age of fifteen to William Pether, the engraver in mezzotinto. Following his inclinations, he spent much of his apprenticeship in drawing portraits, and at its close studied at the Royal Academy, and attracted the notice of Sir Joshua Reynolds. He commenced to paint portraits, and practised first in Dufour's Place, Golden Square, and afterwards in Margaret Street. His success soon enabled him to purchase a cottage at Hanwell. In 1789 he made the acquaintance of Thomas Hearne, and began to sketch landscape in company with and in the style of that artist, although he adhered to his portrait-painting. In 1814 he became a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and in 1820 an associate of the Royal Academy. In 1817 and 1819 he visited France, and made several drawings at Rouen and other towns in Normandy. He died in Margaret Street, Cavendish Square, on 23 April 1821, and was buried at Bushey. Edridge's early portraits were mostly executed with black-lead pencil, and afterwards he added a little flesh colour or tint to the faces. The following likenesses are in the British Museum: the artist himself, Lord Loughborough, Lady Cawdor, F. Bartolozzi, O. Humphry, R.A., T. Cheesman, William Smith, T. Stothard, R.A., James Heath, A.E., W. Byrne, E. F. Burney, R. Corbould, B. J. Pouncey, T. Hearne, W. Woollett, and J. Nollekens. To these portraits should be added the following architectural studies: ‘L'Abbaye des Dames de la Trinité, Caen,’ 23 July 1819; ‘La Tour de la Grosse Horloge, Evreux,’ 4 Aug. 1819; and ‘Bayeux,’ 25 July 1819.
[Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Literary Gazette (1821), p. 333.]