Gervase Spencer
A Lady, probably an actress, wearing black dress, the bodice embroidered with ‘fire’ symbol in red, an elaborate red ribbon studded with pearls and a feather in her upswept hair, c. 1750
Watercolour
Oval, 36mm high
Philip Mould & Co.
To view all current artworks for sale visit philipmould.com The unusual costume worn by the sitter in this portrait miniature suggests that she may be playing a role in...
To view all current artworks for sale visit philipmould.com
The unusual costume worn by the sitter in this portrait miniature suggests that she may be playing a role in a play. She bears some resemblance to the actress Margaret (or ‘Peg’) Woffington, who Spencer also painted in 1750.
Gervase Spencer was originally a gentleman's servant who taught himself miniature painting in watercolour on ivory. He remains an elusive character to historians, and his date of birth, training and personal life remains mysterious. His work caught the eye of the writer George Vertue who described him in 1740 as ‘a young man who not or a few years ago was in the capacity of a footman to Dr. W…-and now professes liming with some success. which demonstrates a Genius pratizing by degrees of himself – and really is in a curious neat manner and masterly’.
His work was commissioned by the royal family, nobility, and some of the more notorious characters in mid-eighteenth life - as demonstrated by this portrait miniature of an actress. A portrait miniature by Spencer of king George III is in the Royal Collection at Windsor.
The unusual costume worn by the sitter in this portrait miniature suggests that she may be playing a role in a play. She bears some resemblance to the actress Margaret (or ‘Peg’) Woffington, who Spencer also painted in 1750.
Gervase Spencer was originally a gentleman's servant who taught himself miniature painting in watercolour on ivory. He remains an elusive character to historians, and his date of birth, training and personal life remains mysterious. His work caught the eye of the writer George Vertue who described him in 1740 as ‘a young man who not or a few years ago was in the capacity of a footman to Dr. W…-and now professes liming with some success. which demonstrates a Genius pratizing by degrees of himself – and really is in a curious neat manner and masterly’.
His work was commissioned by the royal family, nobility, and some of the more notorious characters in mid-eighteenth life - as demonstrated by this portrait miniature of an actress. A portrait miniature by Spencer of king George III is in the Royal Collection at Windsor.