The Sharp Family

The Sharp Family

by Johan Joseph Zoffany
oil on canvas, 1779-1781
45 1/2 in. x 49 1/2 in. (1156 mm x 1257 mm)
Lent by Trustees of the Lloyd-Baker Settled Estates, 1978
Primary Collection
NPG L169

Artist

Johan Joseph Zoffany (1733-1810), Painter of portraits and conversation pieces. Artist associated with 46 portraits, Sitter associated with 11 portraits.

Sitters

Mary Lloyd-Baker (née Sharp) (1778-1812), Daughter of William Sharp. Sitter in 1 portrait.
Elizabeth Prowse (née Sharp) (1733-1810), Sister of Granville and William Sharp. Sitter in 1 portrait.
Anna Jemima Sharp (born 1762?), Daughter of John Sharp. Sitter in 1 portrait.
Catherine Sharp (née Barwick) (1741?-1814), Wife of William Sharp. Sitter in 1 portrait.
Catherine Sharp (1770-1843), Daughter of James Sharp. Sitter in 1 portrait.
Frances Sharp (1738-1799), Sister of Granville and William Sharp. Sitter in 1 portrait.
Granville Sharp (1735-1813), Scholar and philanthropist. Sitter in 7 portraits.
James Sharp (1730-1783), Ironmaster; brother of Granville and William Sharp. Sitter in 1 portrait.
Mrs James Sharp (née Lodge). Sitter in 1 portrait.
John Sharp (1723-1792), Archdeacon of Northumberland. Sitter in 1 portrait.
Judith Sharp (1733-1809), Sister of Granville and William Sharp. Sitter in 1 portrait.
Mary Sharp (née Dering) (1720-1798), Wife of John Sharp. Sitter in 1 portrait.
William Sharp (1729-1810), Surgeon to George III. Sitter in 6 portraits.

This portrait

The remarkable Sharp family gave fortnightly concerts as an orchestra from the 1750s onwards. This conversation piece, one of Zoffany’s masterpieces, commemorates the concerts they gave on board their sailing barge Apollo at Fulham. The work was commissioned from Zoffany by William Sharp, surgeon to George III. Sharp is seen standing at the tiller, hat raised, wearing the Windsor uniform with its distinctive red collar; his instruments are the French horns which rest on the piano. Of his three brothers, Dr John Sharp is on the right and has laid his cello aside for the moment; Granville Sharp, the famous philanthropist and slavery abolitionist, holds his favoured flageolets in one hand, his clarinet being nearby on the piano; while James Sharp, an engineer, holds the serpent. The three Sharp sisters complete the orchestra: Elizabeth at the piano, Judith with music in hand and, above to the right, Frances with a theorbo or perhaps an angelica.

Linked publications

Audio Guide
Gibson, Robin, The Face in the Corner: Animal in Portraits from the collections of the National Portrait Gallery, 1998, p. 46
Ribeiro, Aileen, The Gallery of Fashion, 2000, p. 136
Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 742

Subjects & Themes

Buildings and architecture
Children
Events and occasions
Family and children tour
Family portraits
Georgian tour
Group portraits
Hats and head-attire
Landscapes
Making music
Music tour
Pets and animals
Transport and vehicles