- Header
- William Sharp
- Also known as
-
William Sharp
-
primary name: Sharp, William
-
other name: Sharpe, William
- Details
- individual; printmaker; British; Male
- Life dates
- 1749-1824
- Address
- 9, Bartholomew Lane, Royal Exchange, London (trade cards)
Vauxhall (by 1782 - ODNB)
8 Charles Street, Middlesex Hospital (address on prints, 1788-99)
15 Mornington Place, Hampstead Road, London (address on early 19thC print)
6, George Street, New Road (address on early 19thC print)
27 London Street Fitzroy Square (address on prints, 1811)
20 Gerrard Street, Soho (lettered on undated print)
Titchfield Street (ODNB)
Acton (ODNB)
Chiswick Mall (ODNB; died there in 1824)
- Biography
- One of the most distinguished British line engravers. Son of a gunmaker in Haydon Yard, Minories, London; apprenticed to Barak Longmate, heraldic engraver, and from 1771, studied at the Royal Academy Schools; began his career as a writing engraver in Bartholomew Lane. Politically radical; in later life became a follower of Joanna Southcott (q.v.) According to a note in l'Ambigu, 30 March 1804, Sharp's entire stock of copper plates had recently been lost in a fire at a printer's workshop in Castle Street, Oxford Market (information from Tim Clayton).
On 7 March 1817 J T Smith reported that 'it is the intention of that artist to present his future engravings to the Print Room.'
Three trade cards in Heal Collection: Heal,59.139 advertises "Sharp, Engraver...History, Ornt. Writing, Seals &c."; Heal,59.140 advertises "Sharp, Engraver...", Heal's annotations on mount reads, " Trade card in Banks Collection is dated 1802" [this is an acquisition date of this identical card (Banks,59.168)]. Heal,59.141, a proof impression of 59.140, is marked "Proof. Very rare."
- Bibliography
- W.S.Baker, WS, Philadelphia 1875 (cat. of 231 nos)
ODNB