Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hurdis, James Henry
HURDIS, JAMES HENRY (1800–1857), amateur artist, was the elder son of James Hurdis [q. v.] When he was a year old his father died (1801), and, his mother marrying soon after a physician at Southampton, he was educated there, and afterwards spent a few years in France. He was then articled to Charles Heath [q.v.], the engraver, by whom he was instructed in drawing and etching. Though working only as an amateur, Hurdis was very industrious, and he excelled in humorous subjects in the style of George Cruikshank, whose acquaintance he formed at an early period. He resided chiefly at Newick, near Lewes, and etched a large number of portraits of local notabilities, and views of buildings in Sussex. Some of these appeared in the early volumes of the collections of the Sussex Archæological Society, of which he was a member. Among his more important plates were the portraits of Sir George Shiffner, bart., and Mr. Partington of Oflham, a view of the fête at Lewes to celebrate the coronation of Queen Victoria, and the 'Burning of Richard Woodman at Lewes,' from a picture by F. Colvin. Towards the end of his life Hurdis removed to Southampton, where he died on 30 Nov. 1857. [ Gent. Mag. 1858, p. 109; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; Sussex Archæological Collections.]