Portrait Of Lady Margaret Hasting, Posing As A Shepherdess, 18th Century Charles Jervas (1675-1739)

Portrait Of Lady Margaret Hasting, posing as a Shepherdess 18th Century

CHARLES JERVAS (1675-1739)

Large 18th Century portrait of Lady Margaret Hasting, oil on canvas, by Charles Jervas. Excellent quality and condition there quarter length study of Lady Hastings of Donnington Park, daughter of the Earl Of Huntingdon, before her marriage to Reverend Benjamin Ingham. Portrayed in the humble attire of a shepherdess in a white satin dress, crook, straw hat with a red bow. Presented in a good period gilt frame.

Provenance:: Private estate, Wiltshire, UK

Measurements: 58" x 48" framed approx

Charles Jervas was a student of Kneller's in London. According to Walpole, Norris, the keeper of King William and Queen Anne's paintings allowed Jervas to make numerous copies of works in the royal collection. Jervas then sold these to Dr Clark of Oxford and used the proceeds to travel to Paris and Italy. On his return, he met with success and made an advantageous marriage to a rich widow which allowed him to establish himself well in London.

Jervas was appointed first painter to George I and later to George II. He was an intimate friend of Pope, Addison and Swift and was considered the best portrait painter of his time. Posterity has not, however, shared this opinion and later criticism has been somewhat harsh considering that Jervas was not without merit. Of late, his work has been seen in a more favourable light.

In 1738, Jervas travelled to Italy a second time, for his health; however, he did not remain there preferring to return to London where he died.

Jervas possessed a remarkable collection of objets d'art. It took nine days to sell his paintings, statues, porcelain items and other effects, while his drawings, divided into 2,275 lots, required 25 days of auctions. He also made a translation of Cervantes' Don Quixote, which was published posthumously in 1742 under the name Jarvis.
Museum and Gallery Holdings

London (National Portrait Gal.): Alexander Pope (1713-1715, oil on canvas, attributed); Jonathan Swift (c. 1718, oil on canvas); Caroline Wilhelmina of Brandenburg-Ansbach, Princess of Wales(1727, oil on canvas, studio work); William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland as a child (c. 1728, oil on canvas)