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Gervase Spencer
 Self-portrait (1749)  Gervase Spencer (c.1715–1763), was an English miniaturist. BiographyGervase 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 a husband whose surname was Lloyd.[6] He chiefly showed female sitters and painted with thinly diffused tints, over a delicate grey under.[7] Works
References
Gervase Spencer on the website jjhc.info  Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gervase Spencer.
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