Georgian miniature attributed to Gervase Spencer
Georgian miniature attributed to Gervase Spencer
A Georgian pendant set with an extremely finely portrait miniature of a gentleman wearing a blue overcoat with red collar. Monogrammed G. S. - the renowned 18th century miniaturist Gervase Spencer. The pendant is now mounted on 18th century silk in a larger gilt frame which helps this miniature masterpiece sing.
Gervase Spencer was an English miniaturist. Originally a footman to a "Dr W," Spencer taught himself the art of painting in watercolour on ivory, and was encouraged by his employer. Since enamels were in vogue at the time, he also mastered the complexities of this process. Spencer's prodigious output is divided almost equally between enamels and ivory. Spencer's early work closely resembles that of Jean-André Rouquet (1701 - 1758) and may well have been influenced by him. His first works date from the early 1740s, about the time that he would heve been employed as a servant, with the majority of his production coming between 1745 and 1761. Spencer trained Henry Spicer (1743 - 1804) and possibly Penelope Carwardine (1729 - 1804) to continue the tradition and art of miniatures on enamel and ivory. Spencer met many of the leading London artists of his days including Sir Joshua Reynods (1732 - 1792) who took his portrait. His status was such that in 1763, the year of his death, he was one of only twenty-four miniaturists listed in Mortimer's Universal Director, a directory of leading professionals of all trades. He was a very fair artist and generally signed his works G. S. Spencer married her intimate friend and his only daughter had an husband whose surname was Lloyd. He chiefly showed female sitters and painted with thinly diffused tints, over a delicate grey under.
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![](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://emmettandwhite.com/artwork/georgian-miniature-attributed-to-gervase-spencer&media=https://seek-unique-co.s3.amazonaws.com/emmett_84GhgetY64730-U84534/stock/666d699ec80d9_457_1066.jpg&description=A Georgian pendant set with an extremely finely portrait miniature of a gentleman wearing a blue overcoat with red collar. Monogrammed G. S. - the renowned 18th century miniaturist Gervase Spencer. The pendant is now mounted on 18th century silk in a larger gilt frame which helps this miniature masterpiece sing.Gervase Spencer was an English miniaturist. Originally a footman to a "Dr W," Spencer taught himself the art of painting in watercolour on ivory, and was encouraged by his employer. Since enamels were in vogue at the time, he also mastered the complexities of this process. Spencer's prodigious output is divided almost equally between enamels and ivory. Spencer's early work closely resembles that of Jean-André Rouquet (1701 - 1758) and may well have been influenced by him. His first works date from the early 1740s, about the time that he would heve been employed as a servant, with the majority of his production coming between 1745 and 1761. Spencer trained Henry Spicer (1743 - 1804) and possibly Penelope Carwardine (1729 - 1804) to continue the tradition and art of miniatures on enamel and ivory. Spencer met many of the leading London artists of his days including Sir Joshua Reynods (1732 - 1792) who took his portrait. His status was such that in 1763, the year of his death, he was one of only twenty-four miniaturists listed in Mortimer's Universal Director, a directory of leading professionals of all trades. He was a very fair artist and generally signed his works G. S. Spencer married her intimate friend and his only daughter had an husband whose surname was Lloyd. He chiefly showed female sitters and painted with thinly diffused tints, over a delicate grey under.){kind=link}