Serenity

Edward Burch was a man of many parts. He worked initially as a waterman ferrying people up and down the Thames in London whilst teaching himself how to engrave seals and gems. In the meantime he studied drawing  at St. Martin’s Lane Academy and at the Royal Academy Schools and tried his hand at wax modelling for Josiah Wedgwood. Gem engraving though became his main line of work though he was also a competent miniaturist as evidenced by the fine draughtsmanship seen in this portrait.

Wearing a white dress tinged with pink, the frilled collar accessorised with pearls and her curled hair swept back to show off her gold and ruby earrings, the sitter is captured in an engaging and natural pose. The portrait is signed Burch on the obverse and is set in the original gold frame, the reverse beautifully styled with the initial N laid on foiled blue glass surrounded with plaited brown hair.

Despite his artistic talents, Edward Burch did not thrive well financially especially as he began to struggle with failing eyesight during the 1770s. He was elected as a Royal Academician in 1771 and appointed Academy Librarian. Burch died in February 1814 and is buried at St Pancras Parish Church.
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