Sharp was the son of a reputable gunsmith who lived at Haydon's Yard, Minories in central London. He was apprenticed to the 'bright-cut' engraver[2] and genealogist, Barak Longmate (1738–93), and after marriage to a Frenchwoman, set himself up as a writing engraver in Bartholomew Lane (off Threadneedle Street).[1]
His first notable work was an engraving of "Hector", an old lion at the Tower of London. Around 1782, he sold the shop and moved to Vauxhall, intending to specialise in the higher branches (i.e. engraving for printing) of the engraver's art. Among his earlier plates are some illustrations, after Stothard, for the Novelists' Magazine.[3] He also completed the plate of Benjamin West's "Landing of Charles II" which William Woollett had left unfinished at the time of his death, engraved some of the illustrations by artists who travelled with Captain Cook on his famous voyages,[4] and J. H. Benwell's "Children in the Wood".[5] He finally settled at Chiswick where he remained for the rest of his life.[1]
He engraved the "Doctors Disputing on the Immaculateness of the Virgin" and "Ecce Homo" (after Guido Reni); "King Lear in the Storm" and "The Witch of Endor" (after Benjamin West); "The sortie from Gibraltar" (after John Trumbull); the portrait of John Hunter and "The Holy Family" (after Joshua Reynolds); "St Cecilia" (after Domenichino) and "Virgin and Child" (after Dolci).[1]
Sharp's portrait was painted by George Francis Joseph (1764–1846) and engraved by Sharp himself, and a 3/4-length portrait was painted by James Lonsdale (illustrated). James Thomson (1788–1850) engraved another portrait.[1]
Sharp died in Chiswick on 25 July 1824, and was buried in the parish churchyard there.[1]
He became a convert to the teachings of Mesmer and Swedenborg and came under the religious influence of would-be visionary Jacob Bryan (who worked for Sharp as a printer for a time), and millennialist prophet Richard Brothers, engraving the latter as "Prince of the Hebrews". After Brothers' incarceration in an insane asylum in Islington, Sharp became an adherent of prophetess Joanna Southcott, whom he brought from Exeter to London and kept at his own expense for a considerable time;[3] he made a portrait drawing of her which he engraved.[6] Despite her apparently premature death, he never lost faith in her divine mission or the possibility that she would reappear, and wrote a book in her defence: "An answer to the world etc." (London, 1806).[1][7]
^Bright engraving (or Bright-cut engraving) is non-print engraving, such as on silver spoons, teapots, musical instruments etc. (See Art Union Journal, Oct 1839; and Cunningham, Lives etc, 1838, p277).
^ abcChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Sharp, William" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 811.
^The voyages of Captain Cook (Davidson Galleries – 21 Feb 2011).
^The children in the wood (engraving by Sharp after Benwell - Grosvenor Prints).
william, sharp, engraver, other, people, named, william, sharp, william, sharp, disambiguation, william, sharp, january, 1749, july, 1824, british, engraver, artist, portrait, william, sharp, james, lonsdale, surgeon, john, hunter, after, portrait, joshua, rey. For other people named William Sharp see William Sharp disambiguation William Sharp 29 January 1749 25 July 1824 was a British engraver and artist 1 Portrait of William Sharp by James Lonsdale Surgeon John Hunter after portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds The Angel destroys the Assyrians from Macklin s Bible 1792 Contents 1 Life and work 2 Politics and religion 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksLife and work EditSharp was the son of a reputable gunsmith who lived at Haydon s Yard Minories in central London He was apprenticed to the bright cut engraver 2 and genealogist Barak Longmate 1738 93 and after marriage to a Frenchwoman set himself up as a writing engraver in Bartholomew Lane off Threadneedle Street 1 His first notable work was an engraving of Hector an old lion at the Tower of London Around 1782 he sold the shop and moved to Vauxhall intending to specialise in the higher branches i e engraving for printing of the engraver s art Among his earlier plates are some illustrations after Stothard for the Novelists Magazine 3 He also completed the plate of Benjamin West s Landing of Charles II which William Woollett had left unfinished at the time of his death engraved some of the illustrations by artists who travelled with Captain Cook on his famous voyages 4 and J H Benwell s Children in the Wood 5 He finally settled at Chiswick where he remained for the rest of his life 1 He engraved the Doctors Disputing on the Immaculateness of the Virgin and Ecce Homo after Guido Reni King Lear in the Storm and The Witch of Endor after Benjamin West The sortie from Gibraltar after John Trumbull the portrait of John Hunter and The Holy Family after Joshua Reynolds St Cecilia after Domenichino and Virgin and Child after Dolci 1 Sharp s style of engraving was original the half tints rich and full He became an honorary member of the Imperial Academy in Vienna and the Royal Academy in Munich 1 Sharp s portrait was painted by George Francis Joseph 1764 1846 and engraved by Sharp himself and a 3 4 length portrait was painted by James Lonsdale illustrated James Thomson 1788 1850 engraved another portrait 1 Sharp died in Chiswick on 25 July 1824 and was buried in the parish churchyard there 1 Politics and religion EditSharpe was a republican and a friend of Thomas Paine and Horne Tooke and became a member of the Society for Constitutional Information As a result of a legal dispute involving Horne Tooke Sharp was questioned by the Privy Council on charges relating to treason 3 but was eventually dismissed without punishment as merely an enthusiast He became a convert to the teachings of Mesmer and Swedenborg and came under the religious influence of would be visionary Jacob Bryan who worked for Sharp as a printer for a time and millennialist prophet Richard Brothers engraving the latter as Prince of the Hebrews After Brothers incarceration in an insane asylum in Islington Sharp became an adherent of prophetess Joanna Southcott whom he brought from Exeter to London and kept at his own expense for a considerable time 3 he made a portrait drawing of her which he engraved 6 Despite her apparently premature death he never lost faith in her divine mission or the possibility that she would reappear and wrote a book in her defence An answer to the world etc London 1806 1 7 References Edit a b c d e f g h Sharp William 1749 1824 Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Bright engraving or Bright cut engraving is non print engraving such as on silver spoons teapots musical instruments etc See Art Union Journal Oct 1839 and Cunningham Lives etc 1838 p277 a b c Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Sharp William Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 24 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 811 The voyages of Captain Cook Davidson Galleries 21 Feb 2011 The children in the wood engraving by Sharp after Benwell Grosvenor Prints Portrait of Joanna Southcott Sharp William An answer to the world etc London 1806 Wikimedia Commons has media related to William Sharp 1749 1824 Further reading EditCunningham George Godfrey Lives of eminent and illustrious Englishmen volume 8 Glasgow A Fullarton amp Co 1838 p 277 Baker William Spohn William Sharp engraver Philadelphia Gebbie amp Barrie 1875 External links EditNational Portrait Gallery William Sharp Thomas Paine a print after a painting by George Romney British Museum Obituary of William Sharp The New Monthly Magazine 1 Sep 1824 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Sharp engraver amp oldid 1094093823, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
