William Sharp (1749-1824)
Sir Martin Archer Shee (Dublin 1769 - Brighton 1850)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1810 - 1814
Materials
oil on canvas
Measurements
915 x 740 mm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Petworth House and Park, West Sussex
NT 486775
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, William Sharp (1749-1824) by Sir Martin Archer Shee, PRA (Dublin 1769 – Brighton 1850), circa 1810/14. A half-length portrait, seated, turned slightly to right eyes raised. Left hand on some prints. Black coat, white stock and red background. The sitter was born in London and died in Chiswick. Eminent engraver of portraits and historical, religious and decorative subjects after his contemporaries and Old Master Painters. He began as a writing engraver and was apprenticed to Barak Longmate (1738-1793) the genealogist and heraldic engraver, but in the 1780s earned a very high reputation, especially abroad, as an outstanding line-engraver. He was a great religious enthusiast, and one of the most loyal and indeed last follower of the prophetess Joanna Southcott (1750-1814) a fanatic quasi-religious imposter who declared at the age of 64 that she was about to give birth to a Prince of Peace, instead she died of a brain disease.
Provenance
Owned by the 3rd Earl of Egremont (1751-1837) by 1814; thence by descent; on loan from the Egremont Private Collection
Credit line
Petworth House, The Egremont Collection
Makers and roles
Sir Martin Archer Shee (Dublin 1769 - Brighton 1850), artist