Henry Scharf
Encyclopedia
Henry Scharf was an illustrator, Shakespearean actor, and a professor of elocution. He was the son of illustrator George Johann Scharf
and brother to Sir George Scharf
, the first director of the National Portrait Gallery in London.
's company at Sadler's Wells, where Phelps had produced King John a month or two earlier.
On June 6, 1848, Scharf performed with the Amateurs in Birmingham as Master Matthew in "Every Man in his Humour
". The original actor scheduled to play the role was Charles Dickens
’ friend, the artist John Leech
, who was unable to be there because of the serious illness of his only child. At some point, Scharf moved to the United States and settled in New York, for on August 19, 1850, he played Moses in The School for Scandal
in New York city,
Henry Scharf left the stage in 1852 and became a professor of elocution and anatomical drawing at the University of Virginia
, Charlottesville, and remained employed in Virginia for twenty five years. This following entry regarding Scharf's drawings was made in a history of the University of Virginia:
Scharf also taught at the Virginia Female Institute, which opened on January 1, 1844 in Staunton. Known as Professor Scharf, he attended a meeting as Instructor of Elocution in early February, 1872.
Scharf returned to the stage from May 5 through May 10, 1884, at the National Theatre (Washington, D.C.)
, where he was cast in "Dewdrop," a romantic comedy by Con.T. Murphy and C.E. Callahan, which starred Miss Lizzie Evans
.[5] Around 1882-83 he became a member of a travelling dramatic company for four or five seasons, and towards the end of his career he played "leading old men parts" in Miss Lizzie Evans
's Company. Almost bald and stoutly built towards the end of his life, his last role was as an old gentleman in "Fogg's Ferry". He arrived in New York penniless early in June 1887. In July, after borrowing $30 to purchase a suit of clothes, he disappeared. Scharf had a bad heart and it was conjectured that he had died at the age of sixty-five.
George Johann Scharf
George Johann Scharf was a water color painter, draughtsman and lithographer, and father of Sir George Scharf and Henry Scharf. He exhibited his paintings at the Royal Academy from 1817 to 1850, and was a member of the New Society of Painters in Water Colours.-Early life:George Scharf was born in...
and brother to Sir George Scharf
George Scharf
Sir George Scharf KCB was an English art critic, illustrator, and director of the National Portrait Gallery.-Early years:...
, the first director of the National Portrait Gallery in London.
Biography
Scharf was born in London, England in 1822 to Elizabeth and George Scharf. He trained as an artist, and most likely studied under his father along with his brother, George. He went on the stage and for a few years he acted with some success in England in Shakespearean plays. Henry Scharf made his London debut in November 1844 as a member of Samuel PhelpsSamuel Phelps
Samuel Phelps was an English actor and theatre manager...
's company at Sadler's Wells, where Phelps had produced King John a month or two earlier.
On June 6, 1848, Scharf performed with the Amateurs in Birmingham as Master Matthew in "Every Man in his Humour
Every Man in His Humour
Every Man in His Humour is a 1598 play by the English playwright Ben Jonson. The play belongs to the subgenre of the "humours comedy," in which each major character is dominated by an overriding humour or obsession.-Performance and Publication:...
". The original actor scheduled to play the role was Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
’ friend, the artist John Leech
John Leech
John Leech was an English caricaturist and illustrator.-Early life:John Leech was born in London...
, who was unable to be there because of the serious illness of his only child. At some point, Scharf moved to the United States and settled in New York, for on August 19, 1850, he played Moses in The School for Scandal
The School for Scandal
The School for Scandal is a play written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It was first performed in London at Drury Lane Theatre on May 8, 1777.The prologue, written by David Garrick, commends the play, its subject, and its author to the audience...
in New York city,
Henry Scharf left the stage in 1852 and became a professor of elocution and anatomical drawing at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, Charlottesville, and remained employed in Virginia for twenty five years. This following entry regarding Scharf's drawings was made in a history of the University of Virginia:
These colored drawings for the Medical Department were executed by an accomplished artist, Mr. Henry Scharf, who labored for six
years, and "accumulated an unequalled collection of plates, executed with an exquisite truth to nature, making them invaluable." These
rare plates, on which at least $3000 had been expended, were unfortunately destroyed in the fire that consumed the interior of the Medical
Hall about 1886.
Scharf also taught at the Virginia Female Institute, which opened on January 1, 1844 in Staunton. Known as Professor Scharf, he attended a meeting as Instructor of Elocution in early February, 1872.
Scharf returned to the stage from May 5 through May 10, 1884, at the National Theatre (Washington, D.C.)
National Theatre (Washington, D.C.)
The National Theatre is located in Washington, D.C., and is a venue for a variety of live stage productions with seating for 1,676.Despite its name, it is not a governmentally funded national theatre, but operated by a private, non-profit organization....
, where he was cast in "Dewdrop," a romantic comedy by Con.T. Murphy and C.E. Callahan, which starred Miss Lizzie Evans
Lizzie Evans
Lizzie Evans was an entertainer in vaudeville and musical theatre in New York City and Chicago, Illinois from the 1880s into the 20th century. A New York Times article described her as a bright little person of the Lotta Crabtree physique and school, but with less naturalness and more nasal...
.[5] Around 1882-83 he became a member of a travelling dramatic company for four or five seasons, and towards the end of his career he played "leading old men parts" in Miss Lizzie Evans
Lizzie Evans
Lizzie Evans was an entertainer in vaudeville and musical theatre in New York City and Chicago, Illinois from the 1880s into the 20th century. A New York Times article described her as a bright little person of the Lotta Crabtree physique and school, but with less naturalness and more nasal...
's Company. Almost bald and stoutly built towards the end of his life, his last role was as an old gentleman in "Fogg's Ferry". He arrived in New York penniless early in June 1887. In July, after borrowing $30 to purchase a suit of clothes, he disappeared. Scharf had a bad heart and it was conjectured that he had died at the age of sixty-five.