Flowers & Garnets

This finely painted miniature in its locket case decorated with garnets would have been a precious keepsake in its day possibly treasured by the gentlewoman’s sister or daughter. The artist has painstakingly captured the detail of the sitter’s costume from the floral pattern on her lace shawl to the frilled edge of her indoor cap visible under her outdoor hat that is tied in a ribbon bow under her chin. It is though her colourful corsage that particularly catches the viewer’s eye.

Although unsigned, the miniature can be ascribed to the hand of Gervase Spencer whose career as a miniaturist began whilst he was working as a gentleman’s valet in a London household during the 1740s. A talented draughtsman, he was self-taught and became a prolific artist working competently on ivory and in enamel with many commissions from the aristocracy.