An Elegant 18th-Century Portrait Miniature of a Lady – Painted by Gervase Spencer (d. 1763) An elegant and delicately executed British portrait miniature depicting a lady dressed in a refined black gown edged with delicate lace, with a contrasting pink bodice and an elaborate lace bonnet. The portrait is of **Gervase Spencer (d. 1763)**, a notable British portrait miniaturist active during the 18th century. The sitter's carefully rendered costume, particularly the delicate lacework and the contrast between the dark gown and soft pink bodice, lends the composition an intimate and refined character. Executed in watercolours on a natural substrate, the miniature is housed in an elaborate gilt-metal frame decorated with scrolling motifs and fitted with bracelet clasp slides, suggesting that it was intended to be incorporated into a decorative bracelet. The combination of miniature portrait painting and ornamental metalwork reflects the tradition of portrait jewellery, in which intimate likenesses were preserved and worn as treasured personal keepsakes. The Artist – Gervase Spencer Gervase Spencer (d. 1763) was a British portrait miniaturist active during the mid-18th century. He is associated with the development of English miniature portraiture during the Georgian period, when small-scale portraits became increasingly fashionable among affluent families and members of society. His works are appreciated for their delicate handling of facial features, refined colouring and attention to costume and detail. Provenance **Bonhams, Knightsbridge, London, 21 November 1995, Lot 94.** The recorded appearance of the miniature at Bonhams provides an important reference in its collecting history. **Artist:** Gervase Spencer (d. 1763). **Date:** Mid-18th century. **Origin:** Britain. **Style:** Georgian Portrait Miniature. **Technique:** Watercolours on a natural substrate. **Dimensions:** Oval, approximately 3.2 cm high. **Frame:** Ornate gilt-metal frame with scrolling decoration and bracelet clasp slides. **Provenance:** Bonhams, Knightsbridge, London, 21 November 1995, Lot 94.
Auction 02: Rare 18th–19th Century Portrait Miniatures & Mourning Jewellery — Melis Antiques & Art