William Sharp

Heidegger (Jean Conradin Heidegger, Burgemeister of Zurich, on his Deathbed)

William Sharp's original engraving, "Heidegger (Jean Conradin Heidegger, Burgemeister of Zurich, on his Deathbed)" was for me the subject of many more questions than answers in regard to finally tracking down his true identity. William Sharp's engraving was originally issued for the first English edition of "Essays on Physiognomy", written by Johann Caspar Lavater (Switzerland, 1742-1801). In this then influential book Lavater analyzed physical characteristics to predict character, vocation, intelligence and temperament. He was thus the precursor to the 19th century pseudo-science, phrenology.

William Sharp executed two engravings of Heidegger for the Essays, the present example and a frontal view of his death mask. The two engravings are listed in W. S. Baker's 1875 catalogue raisonne of Sharp's engraved art under the numbers, 104 and 105. For both he adds the note, "the musician". This then leads us to the Swiss born, John James Heidegger (1666-1749) who spent most of his life in London and was the manager there of the Italian Opera and was associated with none other than Georg Friedrich Handel. J. J. Heidegger also organised controversial masquerades which put him at odds with the clergy and other conservative factions.

Several impressions of Heidegger are included in the collection of the British Museum and each (following the catalogue raisonne) identifies the sitter as John James Heidegger. As any student of art knows, the British Museum is one of the most valuable and trustworthy sites for research, yet I still had my doubts. Firstly, on the death mask engraving the title is "C. Heidegger". Neither John nor James fits the bill. Secondly, I began examining available portrait engravings and paintings of J. J. Heidegger. Given the fact that death alters one's countenance, I still could not find the slightest resemblance between J. J. Heidegger and the subject of this engraving.

Light was finally shed by obtaining the text of the first English translation of Lavater's "Essays", which was published in parts between 1789 and 1798. Heidegger's first names are not provided here, but Lavater's phrenological analysis furnishes the clue. "The outline from the eyebrow down to the chin, indicates less the genius of a poet than the talents of a politician; it supposes more solidity than imagination; greater depth and firmness, than sensibility and warmth"

Thus I was now on the hunt for Heidegger, the politician or statesman, and eventually another 18th century Swiss emerged, Jean Conradin (or Conrad) Heidegger (1710-1778) was Burgomaster of Zurich and Switzerland's most prominent statesmen of the day. I failed to locate another portrait of Jean Conrad Heidegger but confirmation came when I found Sharp's preparatory drawing for this engraving in the collection of the Wellcome Library, London. There, at last, it is listed under its correct title. Both the engraving and drawing may be viewed online at the following locations:

British Museum, Registration Number: 1853,1210.321 (engraving)

Wellcome Library, London. http://catalogue.wellcome.ac.uk/record=b1186594 (drawing)

Heidegger (Jean Conradin Heidegger, Burgemeister of Zurich, on his Deathbed)

View other original works of art by the British artist, William Sharp.

William Sharp (London, 1749 - Chaswick, 1824)
#	Image	Title & Artist	Medium	Date	Notes
01-		Heidegger (Jean Conradin Heidegger, Burgemeister of Zurich, on his Deathbed) by William Sharp.	Original Line Engraving	1792	Publication: Lavater's Essays on Physiognomy
02.-		Thomas Walker by William Sharp designed by George Romney.	Original Line Engraving	1794	Publisher: William Sharp, London

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Title:	Heidegger (Jean Conradin Heidegger, Burgemeister of Zurich, on his Deathbed)
Artist:	Sharp, William (London, 1749 - Chaswick, 1824)
Date:	1792
Medium:	Original Line Engraving
Publication:	Lavater's Essays on Physiognomy
Note:	William Sharp: One of England’s most heralded engravers of the late eighteenth century, William Sharp began his career as a humble engraver of pewter pots and tankards. His ascent to the higher arts, however, was not long in coming and his first major engraving was published in 1782 at the request of Benjamin West. William 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. The British Museum, London, now houses a complete collection of Sharp’s engraved art.
	Despite his obvious skills and high standing, William Sharp’s career was not above controversy. He was a follower of mystical and visionary prophets of the day, such as Johanna Southcote and Emmanuel Swedenborg. Moreover he was suspected of harbouring republican and revolutionary sympathies. In this regard his engraved portraits of such radicals as Thomas Paine, Thomas Walker and Kosciuszko threatened to land him in political trouble. G. C. Williamson writes, “He was suspected of entertaining revolutionary principles, and was examined before the Privy Council. At one of these examinations, after being long annoyed by questions which he thought irrelevant, he deliberately pulled out of his pocket a subscription list for a portrait, handed it to Pitt and Dundas, requesting them to have the goodness to put their names to it as subscribers, and then to pass it to other members of the council. The audacity of the proposal, at such a time, set them laughing, and he was soon after liberated.” *
	Jean Conradin Heidegger: Jean Conradin (or Conrad) Heidegger (1710-1778) was Burgomaster of Zurich and Switzerland's most prominent statesmen of the day.
Catalogue Raisonne:	W. S. Baker, "William Sharp, Engraver. Descriptive Catalogue of his Works", Philadelphia, Gebbie & Barrie, 1875. Catalogue #105. Listed as "Heidegger, The Musician, Profile."
Reference:	*G. C. Williamson, "Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers", Bell & Sons, London, 1934, Vol 5, pp. 71 & 72.
Size:	9 1/8 x 7 1/2 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Matted with 100% Archival Materials
Buy Now	Price: $295.00 US
Condition:	Printed upon thick hand-made, laid paper and with large margins extending at least one inch from the plate-mark on all sides. Bearing the title and the engraver's name under the portrait. Slight scuffing is evident in the outer margins as well as a small water stain along the lower plate-mark and two small hinges taped along the upper margin, else in good condition throughout. "Heidegger" represents a most intriguing, original example of the famous, engraved art of William Sharp.
Subject:	William Sharp, "Heidegger (Jean Conradin Heidegger, Burgemeister of Zurich, on his Deathbed)", original engraving, Jean Conrad Heidegger, John James Heidegger, "Essays on Physiognomy", Johann Caspar Lavater, phrenological analysis, British Museum, Wellcome Library.
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