William Sharp
(1749-1824), EngraverSitter in 2 portraits
Artist associated with 73 portraits
One of England's most heralded engravers of the late eighteenth century, William Sharp began his career as an engraver of pewter pots and tankards. From 1771, he studied at the Royal Academy schools, after which he set himself up as a line engraver. Sharp's reputation was made with his engraving, Alfred the Great Dividing his Loaf with the Pilgrim, after Benjamin West and published by Boydell in 1782. One of the eighteenth century's most accomplished line engravers, Sharp excelled at portraits and allegorical and historical scenes based upon the designs of such contemporary British painters as West, Sir Joshua Reynolds and George Romney.
by and published by William Sharp, after Sir Henry Raeburn
line engraving, published 1790
NPG D35798
Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine
by and published by William Sharp, after Richard Cosway
line engraving, published 2 May 1791
NPG D15331
by William Sharp, after George Romney
engraving, 1793
NPG D1364
Boadicea Haranguing the Britons (called Boudicca (Boadicea))
by William Sharp, after John Opie
line engraving, published 1793
NPG D11080
by and published by William Sharp, after George Romney
engraving, published 20 April 1793
NPG D15322
by and published by William Sharp, after George Romney
line engraving, published 5 November 1794
NPG D38001
by and published by William Sharp, after George Romney
line engraving, published 5 November 1794
NPG D38003
by William Sharp, after Lemuel Francis Abbott
line engraving, published 1794
NPG D7888
by William Sharp, after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1795
NPG D13195
Q. Mary's Escape from Lochleven Castle (Mary, Queen of Scots)
by William Sharp, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, published 1795
NPG D13128
by William Sharp, after John Opie
line engraving, 1796
NPG D37426
by William Sharp, published by Samuel More, after Benjamin West
line engraving, published 30 November 1798 (1796)
NPG D38960
by William Sharp, after Sir William Beechey
line engraving, published 1801
NPG D32006
by and published by William Sharp, after Sir William Beechey
line engraving, published 1801
NPG D13736
by and published by William Sharp, after Sir Martin Archer Shee
line engraving, published 7 April 1803
NPG D19330
by William Sharp
line engraving, published April 1804
NPG D35948
by William Sharp
line engraving, published 1804
NPG D35949
by William Sharp, after Sir William Beechey
line engraving, published 1810
NPG D3264
by William Sharp, after John Hoppner
line engraving, published 4 November 1810
NPG D5546
by and published by William Sharp, after John Hoppner
line engraving, published 4 November 1810
NPG D19686
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