Charles Jervas (c.1675-1739) Early 18th Century Portrait of a Noblewoman

Fine, richly coloured and sensitively rendered large early 18th century English portrait of a beauty. The elegant dark haired sitter is pictured three quarter length within a landscape and she appears delightfully deshabille, expensively dressed in the high status and fashionable brightly coloured silk clothing of the period.

She leans wistfully upon a tussled red velvet cushion, which is perched atop a sculpted pilar in front of rock work and behind her is an extensive wooded landscape.

One hand caressing her cheek whilst the other clutches a midnight blue silk shawl which she wears over a pale gold dress with a jewelled fasting, and a white chemise. Her hair is worn in loose curls, some framing her face, whilst others cascade naturalistically around her bare shoulders.

Charles Jervas (c. 1675 – 1739) Jervas was an Irish portrait painter, translator, and art collector. Born in County Offaly, Ireland around 1675, Jervas studied in London, England as an assistant under Sir Godfrey Kneller between 1694 and 1695.

Painting portraits of the city''s intellectuals, among them such personal friends as Jonathan Swift and the poet Alexander Pope (both now in the National Portrait Gallery, London), Charles Jervas became a popular artist often referred to in the works of literary figures of the period.

Jervas gave painting lessons to Pope at his house in Cleveland Court, St James''s, which Pope mentions in his poem, To Belinda on the Rape of the Lock, written 1713, published 1717 in ''Poems on Several Occasions''.

With his growing reputation, Jervas succeeded Kneller as Principal Portrait Painter to King George I in 1723, and continued to live in London until his death in 1739, although he made made lengthy visits to Ireland.

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Canvas: 50” x 40'' / 127cm x 102cm. Frame: 56,5” x 46.5” / 144cm x 118cm.