William Sharp & George Romney

Thomas Walker

William Sharp's portrait of Thomas Walker is an original line engraving printed upon thick hand-made, laid paper and with full margins as published by William Sharp in London in 1794. It is based upon a design created by George Romney, one of the greatest English portrait and historical painters of the late eighteenth century.

Thomas Walker was a Manchester cotton manufacturer. He was also the founder of the 'Constitutional Society' and the leader of the Manchester radicals. This portrait represents a fine, original example of the engraved art by the British artist, William Sharp and of late 18th century English political and social culture.

Thomas Walker

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:	Thomas Walker
Engraver:	Sharp, William (London, 1749 - Chaswick, 1824)
Designer:	Romney, George (Lancashire, 1734 - London, 1802)
Date:	1794
Medium:	Original Line Engraving
Publisher:	William Sharp, London
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." *
	George Romney: After Gainsborough and Reynolds, George Romney ranks as the greatest English portrait and historical painter of the late eighteenth century. Born into lowly circumstances he was sent to Kendal as a young man to apprentice under the painter, Christopher Steele. He remained in this town until the early 1760's, making his way as a local portrait painter. Romney then set out for London and made an almost overnight success of his career with his 1763 painting, "The Death of General Wolfe". In the following years he created some of the greatest portraits in the history of British art, including that of Lady Hamilton.
	Like the engraver, William Sharp, Romney is reputed to have had republican ties. He was a supporter of the French Revolution and was known to have dined with Thomas Paine (the controversial author of The Rights of Man) in 1791. He also painted the portraits of Paine and Thomas Walker. Such sympathies, however, did not prevent Romney from keeping his most fashionable apartment in London's Cavendish Square nor from succeeding Sir Joshua Reynolds as the appointed 'Portrait Painter to the King'.
	Thomas Walker: Walker was a Manchester cotton manufacturer. He was also the founder of the 'Constitutional Society' and the leader of the Manchester radicals. His opposition to both the Church and the King brought him to national attention. In 1792 Church and King loyalists attacked both his business and home. Thomas Walker was perplexingly charged with armed conspiracy for attempting to defend his properties. Clearly the charge could not be upheld and he was soon after acquitted.
Reference:	G. C. Williamson, Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers*, Bell & Sons, London, 1934, Vol 5, pp. 71 & 72.
Size:	12 X 9 (Sizes in inches are approximate, height preceding width of plate-mark or image.)
	Matted with 100% Archival Materials
Buy Now	Price: $395.00 US
Condition:	Printed upon thick hand-made, laid paper and with full margins as published by William Sharp in London in 1794. Bearing the full publisher's address along the lower margin: "London, Published Nov. 5, 1794 by William Sharp, Charles Street near Middlesex Hospital." Containing one very small scratch mark under the publisher's address else a rich, early impression and in excellent condition throughout. Thomas Walker represents a prime, original example of the engraved art of William Sharp and of late eighteenth century English political and social culture.
Subject:	William Sharp, George Romney, Thomas Walker, original engraving, Manchester cotton manufacturer, 'Constitutional Society', British portrait engraving.
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