Richard Bernard Godfrey
Richard Bernard Godfrey was a late 18th-century artist, active primarily as a printmaker and illustrator between 1776 and 1782.
Godfrey's documented work overwhelmingly consists of topographical and architectural views, likely executed through engraving, commissioned for major historical surveys of the period. The artist is recognized for contributing illustrations to significant publications, most notably Edward Hasted's ambitious multi-volume work, The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent.
Works associated with this project include detailed estate depictions such as Langley Park, near Beckenham in Kent, Belvidere House, near Erith, in the County of Kent, and various views of Bradborne, near Sevenoke. Records show that 14 illustrated books and one standalone print attributed to Godfrey are represented in collections, demonstrating their specialized role in documenting 18th-century English architecture and landscape.
The artistic output of Richard Bernard Godfrey prints is held in major institutional collections, confirming the historical significance of their commissions. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds examples of the artist’s work. Today, many of these historical images are preserved in the public domain and available as downloadable artwork, providing valuable royalty-free resources for historical research.
