Charles Jervas

Sir Charles Jervas or Charles Jarvis (* 1675 in County Offaly, † 1739 in London) was a renowned Irish painter, translator, and art collector of the 18th century.

Biography

Charles Jervas was a son of the landowner Jervas John and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Baldwin, daughter of John Baldwin of Shinrone Castle & Corolanty. He grew up with his siblings in Dublin. Early on, his parents realized his talent for painting. Between 1694 and 1695 Jervas studied under Godfrey Kneller in the Kneller Academy of Painting and Drawing in London. With financial help from his family and the money from the sale of Raphael replicas at All Souls College ( 1698 ) could Jervas undertake a study trip to Italy.

After his return to England in 1709 Charles Jervas married a rich widow, Penelope Hume ( † 1747 ), and lived on in Hampton. During this time he painted his first portraits, including Joseph Addison, Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope. After the death of his teacher and mentor Godfrey Kneller in 1723, appointed him court painter to King George I.. This position he held under his son and successor, King George II, held. 1736 Jervas translated the novel Don Quixote by the Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes into English (published 1742). On behalf of the king Jervas 1738 traveled again to Italy to buy paintings of the Old Masters. Shortly after his return died Jervas Charles, who suffered from asthma for years, due to an infection in London. After his death, his heirs sold his art collection - the sale should have lasted for nine days.

Works (selection)

Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough

Henrietta Howard, Countess of Suffolk

Robert Walpole