Gervase Spencer

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

Self-portrait (1749)
Portrait miniature of an unknown woman by Gervase Spencer, enamel on metal, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1756

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
  1. Victoria & Albert Museum
  2. V&A Biographies
  3. Perfect likeness: European and American portrait miniatures - Cincinnati Art Museum, Julie Aronson, Marjorie E. Wieseman
  4. Perfect likeness: European and American portrait miniatures - Cincinnati Art Museum, Julie Aronson, Marjorie E. Wieseman
  5. The Magazine of Art - Volume 14, Marion Harry Spielmann 1891
  6. The Farington Diary - Volume 6 - Joseph Farington, James Greig · 1926
  7. Painted Enamels: An Illustrated Survey 1500-1920 Erika Speel · 2008

Gervase Spencer on the website jjhc.info

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