Gervase Spencer (c.1715–1763), was an English miniaturist.

Biography

Gervase Spencer was an English miniaturist.[1] Originally a footman to a "Dr W," Spencer taught himself the art of painting in watercolour on ivory, and was encouraged by his employer.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] He was a very fair artist and generally signed his works G. S.[5] Spencer married her intimate friend and his only daughter had an husband whose surname was Lloyd.[6] He chiefly showed female sitters and painted with thinly diffused tints, over a delicate grey under.[7]

Works

• Lady Gower, née Elizabeth Fazakerley. Signed and dated on the front GS 1745.
• Lady Caroline Fox. Enemel signed and dated on the back 1747.
• Sir James MacDonald. Enemel signed and dated on the front GS 1747.
• Nathaniel Ryder, 1st Baron Harrowby (1735-1803). Signed on the front: 'GS 1748'.
• Susan Ashley-Cooper Noel (1710 – 1758) the daughter of Baptist Noel,3rd Earl of Gainsborough,1748 ca, ivory signed on the obverse.
• Martha North, Signed and dated on the back 1749.
• Marguerite Madeleine de Cerjat born Stample in London (3/4/1736 – 25/4/1813). Signed and dated on the front GS 1749.
• Margaret Woffington (known as Peg)(1714-1760). Signed and dated on the front GS 1750.
• Lady Louisa Augusta Greville (born 1743). Signed and dated on the front GS 1751.
• Unknown Lady. Signed and dated on the back J Spencer pinx 1752. Victoria & Albert Museum, London.
• François Duquesnoy (1579-1643). Signed with initials and dated 'G S 1752' enamel on copper.
• George, 3rd Duke of St. Albans. Signed with initials and dated 'G.S 1753'.
• Susannah Beckford (née Love)(died 1803). Signed on the counter-enamel and dated G. Spencer pinxit/ 1755.
• Countess of Coventry. Enamel, signed with initials and dated 1757 on the obverse and in full on the reverse.
• Henry Vansittart (1756-1786). Signed and dated on the front GS 1760.
• Isabella Dalton (née Wray, 1731–1780). Signed and dated 1761.

References

Gervase Spencer on the website jjhc.info

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gervase Spencer.