Charles I, King of Great Britain c. 18th century

Curator: William Sharp, an engraver active around the turn of the nineteenth century, created this print, entitled Charles I, King of Great Britain. Three depictions of the same man gaze out at us. Editor: The effect is quite strange; something about the repetition feels unsettling, almost propagandistic, while also highlighting Charles’s vulnerabilities, given his troubled reign. Curator: Sharp’s line work creates a compelling surface of layered textures, from the dense hatching of the robes to the lighter touch used for the lace collars. It’s a study in tonal variation. Editor: I’m struck by how it serves as a reminder of the complex and often brutal power dynamics inherent in monarchy—and the artistic choices used to either reinforce or undermine such power. Curator: Indeed. Sharp’s technical skill allows us to appreciate the subtleties of portraiture, while your reading brings a vital socio-political dimension to our understanding. Editor: Ultimately, it seems the formal aspects enhance an appreciation of the history.