Early Portrait of a Girl by Bernard Lens

A winsome early eighteenth century miniature portrait of a young aristocratic girl aspiring to be all grown up.

She is wearing a pretty azure blue dress, the low rounded neckline and tapered bodice covered with fine white lace. Her golden brown hair is drawn back and curled and is decorated with a posy of colourful flowers.

Unsigned watercolour on ivory set in the original high carat gold frame.

A third generation miniature painter, Bernard Lens III (1682-1740) was one of the principal miniaturists of his day. He also taught drawing at Eton and was one of the first to use ivory as a base.