Art Institute of Chicago

Evil

William Sharp (English, 1748-1824)

Date: published September 2, 1816
Medium: Engraving on ivory China paper, laid down on ivory laid paper (chine collé)
Culture: England
Department: Prints and Drawings
Institution: Art Institute of Chicago

Sharp transcended Le Brun’s codified expressions of fear and hate when he reproduced the unhinged expression of Michelangelo’s ultimate fiend. Despite the figure’s inhuman screams, Sharp suggested the wicked would not prevail forever, for, according to Psalm 37 (cited on the print’s final state): “The wicked plot against the righteous; and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.”

View at Art Institute of Chicago ↗

The authoritative record is held by Art Institute of Chicago. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.

Linked open data

Authority identifiers that link this record into the wider web of cultural data — stable references you can follow to the source.

Object type: AAT300041273

Related across collections

Semantically similar works from Art Institute of Chicago and other institutions.

Thou hast fulfilled the Judgment of the Wicked

Minneapolis Institute of Art

The Virtues of Christ and the Wickedness of His Enemies Symbolized by Diverse Birds and Beasts (verso); The Last Supper (recto), pages 66 and 65 from the Treasury (Schatzbehalter)

Art Institute of Chicago