Charles Jervas
Who was Charles Jervas?
Irish artist (c.1675-1739)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Charles Jervas (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Charles Jervas (also spelled Jarvis and Jervis; c. 1675 – 2 November 1739) was an Irish painter, translator, and art collector who became a leading portrait painter in early eighteenth-century England. Born in Dublin, Jervas moved to London and established himself among the British cultural and social elite. He eventually became the Principal Painter to the Crown under both George I and George II.
Jervas trained with Sir Godfrey Kneller, a top portrait painter in England, and later traveled to Rome to study the Old Masters. This experience in Europe deepened his appreciation for classical painting, which influenced his work as both an artist and a collector of important artworks. After returning to England, Jervas opened a studio and quickly attracted a fashionable clientele from the aristocracy, literary circles, and political life.
Aside from painting, Jervas was well-connected with prominent literary figures of his time. He maintained a long friendship with Alexander Pope, who lived in Jervas's London home for a period and took painting lessons from him. Pope spoke warmly of Jervas in verse and letters, and the two shared a mutual admiration that made Jervas a part of the intellectual and artistic discussions of the era. He also knew Jonathan Swift, John Gay, and other notable individuals of the time.
Jervas translated Miguel de Cervantes's Don Quixote into English, with his translation published posthumously in 1742. Although critics, both then and later, pointed out some inaccuracies, the translation remained popular for over a century and was reprinted many times, showing its lasting appeal. This project showcased Jervas's wide-ranging interests, which went beyond art to include literature and languages.
As an art collector, Jervas put together an impressive collection of paintings and drawings, including works by Italian and Flemish masters. His collection showed both his training in Rome and his ongoing interest in European artistic traditions. He passed away in London on 2 November 1739, leaving behind numerous portraits that capture much of the social world of early Hanoverian Britain.
Before Fame
Charles Jervas was born in Ireland around 1675. Back then, Irish artists often needed to move to London or Europe to find better opportunities for training and patronage. Not much is known about his early life or family in Dublin, but he did get enough early support to pursue painting as a career.
His big break came when he got the chance to study in London with Sir Godfrey Kneller, the top portrait painter in Britain at the time. After this apprenticeship, Jervas went on the usual trip to Italy, spending time in Rome and learning from Renaissance and Baroque art. This mix of training with Kneller and studying European masterpieces gave Jervas the skills and cultural background he needed to compete for high-level clients when he got back to England.
Key Achievements
- Appointed Principal Painter to the Crown under George I and George II
- Produced an English translation of Cervantes's Don Quixote, published posthumously in 1742 and reprinted widely for over a century
- Established one of the most sought-after portrait practices in early eighteenth-century London, with sitters drawn from the highest levels of British aristocracy and political life
- Assembled a significant collection of Old Master paintings and drawings informed by his studies in Rome
- Maintained close artistic and intellectual ties with leading writers including Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift, contributing to the cross-pollination of visual and literary culture in the period
Did You Know?
- 01.Alexander Pope lived in Jervas's London house and received painting lessons from him, an arrangement that Pope later commemorated in an epistle addressed to Jervas published in 1716.
- 02.Jervas's translation of Don Quixote, completed before his death in 1739, was published three years after he died and remained in print well into the nineteenth century despite critical reservations about its fidelity to the original Spanish.
- 03.He was appointed Principal Painter to King George I in 1723 following the death of Sir Godfrey Kneller, and retained the position under George II.
- 04.Jervas was known among contemporaries for a certain self-assurance regarding his own abilities; Jonathan Swift reportedly found this confidence a source of gentle amusement in their correspondence.
- 05.His sitter list included many of the most recognizable figures of early eighteenth-century British society, among them members of the Kit-Cat Club, an influential association of Whig politicians and literary men.