EARLY 18TH CENTURY ENGLISH PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN - ATTRIBUTED TO CHARLES JERVAS (1675-1739)

A subtly coloured, well characterised and highly decorative early 18th oil on canvas portrait of a handsome gentleman attributed to Charles Jervas (1675-1739)

The wide eyed sitter is pictured half length within a feigned oval cartouche and with his body inclined, he gazes at us with the most captivating of expressions. He sports the traditional costume of aristocratic men of the period, and this is comprised of a richly coloured salmon pink velvet coat worn with a fine white cravat and a vertiginous and curly chestnut coloured wig.

Other points to note in this portrait are the glipmses of impasto in the sitters costume, the well preserved pigments, and also the sitters face. This is the record of a real character, rendered sensitively in oil, and a gentleman who despite his obvious status, remains approachable rather than aloof.

This fine work is in an excellent state of conservation and is ready to hang and enjoy it its original and elaborate 18th century frame which is itself a work of art.

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: 30.5" x 25" / 77cm x 64cm. Frame: 36" x 31" / 92cm x 79cm.                              

Price: £6250