The Legacy of the Sharples Dynasty: Portraits and the Industrial Spirit The story of James Sharples is a fascinating tapestry woven from threads of classical artistry and the raw, transformative power of the Industrial Revolution. Born in the mid-18th century in Lancashire, around 1751 or 1752, Sharples was a man of dual identities. While history often remembers him as an English portrait painter and pastelist who brought a refined ae…