Bernard III. Lens
Gentleman in Blue Coat and Yellow Waistcoat
The young gentleman in a blue coat and yellow waistcoat had been portrayed by Bernard Lens, who originated from an artist family having worked in England for many generations. 1 The sitter wears a white powdered full - bottomed- wig, the lower ends of which had been bundled together in knots, which made the wig on the one hand more convenient to wear, but expressing on the other hand also a fashionable chic. The posture of the head and the illumination correspond to the artist's self portrait, created in 1724 as well. 2 It depicts the miniaturist in a knee - length portrait, holding a miniature in his hand with his painting material arrayed before him. An unfinished miniature lies on a adjustable desk; next to it some brushes and a palette are visible.
Lens is the first English miniaturist who used ivory as a painting support. His model as to this method had been the Venetian artist Rosalba Carriera (cf. cat.-no 2008-7 - 2008-14 and p 2008-14ff), whose works inspired Lens stylistically, as well. 3 Yet he did not attain Rosalba's virtuosity, for his paintings often appear slightly schematic and conventional. In his country, though, he belonged to the most popular miniaturists, and the Kings George I. and II. were among his customers.
B.P.
1 His grandfather Bernard Lens (ca. 1631-1708) worked as an enamel painter, his father Bernard (1659-1725) as draughtsman and engraver. His sons Peter Paul (1714?-1750?) and Andrew Benjamin (ca. 1713-after 1779, cf. cat.- no 2008-49) were miniaturists, too.
2 Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, inv.-no.1897.58. A self portrait of Lens, dated 1718, exists in the collection of the Duke of Portland, another one of 1721 in the National Portrait Gallery in London (NPG 1724).
3 Cf. for example the two portraits of ladies by Lens in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, inv.- no. 3918 and PD. 63-1948.
