Updated:
July 20, 2007
rtist William Alexander Sharp (1864-1944) was born in England and immigrated to the United States with his father, mother and sister. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and would later teach at Stetson University in Florida. He left Florida and moved to Southern California at the turn of the 20 th century. He began a long association with architect Arthur Benton and Mission Inn owner Frank Miller. In 1908, he produced a rendering/watercolor presentation piece of the Mission Inn, in association with Benton.
Sharp was a talented and versatile artist. He produced many pieces of art for Mr. Miller. William Sharp designed a series of stained glass windows for the Refectorio, a small room under the stage of the Cloister Music Room. These windows were later incorporated into the Glenwood Tavern (circa 1970), an area adjacent to the Music Room. In these California mission-inspired widows, Sharp included himself playing a lute
Sharp produced the hotel’s house mark called an “escutcheon” for Miller. He also produced several drawings of scenes of the Mission Inn. The drawings were used on postcards, menus, books, and other items published by the hotel. Printing plates with Sharp’s artwork provided a way to reproduce the art in great quantities. Nearly 200 of the printing plates are in the Mission Inn collections.
On Mount Rubidoux west of the Mission Inn, several plaques are dedicated to people like Father Junipero Serra, founder of the California missions. Sharp designed many of the plaques, as well as the artwork for a small book telling the story of Mt. Rubidoux.
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