A rare and historically interesting English portrait miniature, signed and dated 1729, by the British miniature painter Bernard Lens III (1682–1740), one of the prominent artists in the field of miniature painting in England during the early 18th century. The work depicts Henry II (1133–1189), King of England from 1154 to 1189, and belongs to a series of portraits of English rulers known as the “English Heads of State”. **Other works from the series of portraits of English rulers (English Heads of State), by Bernard Lens III, are held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The connection to the series represented in the museum's collection gives the present miniature additional artistic and research interest.** The miniature was executed in watercolours and gold paint on vellum and is mounted in an ebonised wooden frame of the type known as a Lens Frame, associated with the framing method used by the artist. According to the original description, the intertwined initials BL appear on the front of the painting, while a historical inscription preserved on the reverse of the frame records the king's name, the years of his reign, the artist's name, and the date 1729. Description of the Portrait King Henry II is depicted in a half-length composition, in an almost fully frontal pose, wearing a royal crown and holding a sceptre surmounted by a fleur-de-lis. His face is relatively elongated, with light-coloured eyes, a straight nose, and a full golden-brown beard. His curly brown hair falls along the sides of his face to neck level. His expression is serious and restrained, and his gaze is directed towards the viewer. He wears a gilt crown decorated with geometric and foliate ornamentation, with elements resembling gemstones and royal motifs. The king is dressed in robes in shades of gold, orange-brown, and white, decorated with stripes and rich geometric patterns. Across the shoulders and chest is a decorative gilt band with an interlaced pattern and repeating motifs, emphasising the sitter's royal status. The deep blue background creates a striking contrast with the gold of the crown, sceptre, and clothing. The portrait is enclosed within a thin circular gold border, highlighting the composition and giving it the character of a formal royal portrait. Beneath the portrait, against the dark background of the frame, appears the gilt inscription: “K Henry II” The composition combines a historical representation of an English ruler with a decorative visual language characteristic of royal portraits produced for documentation, study, and collecting during the 18th century. The Original Frame – Lens Frame The miniature is mounted in a square wooden frame, finished in deep black, with moulded and stepped borders. According to the original description, the frame is made of pearwood, stained or painted black. Frames of this type are associated with Bernard Lens III, who used ebonised wooden frames with moulded profiles to display miniatures and small paintings. The frame includes a dark inner mount and glass with bevelled edges protecting the portrait. A metal suspension ring is fitted to the top, allowing the work to be displayed on a wall. The frame gives the miniature a restrained and formal appearance, emphasising the circular portrait and the gilt inscription beneath it. The Historical Inscription on the Reverse An old paper label bearing an inscription in handwriting and decorative lettering is preserved on the reverse of the frame. According to the original description, the inscription reads: “King Henry II began his Reign in 1154 Died 1189 Bernd Lensis Fecit 1729” The inscription records the beginning of Henry II's reign in 1154, the year of his death in 1189, and the date 1729, attributed to the execution of the miniature. The Latin term *Fecit* means “made” or “created” and was used by artists to indicate a work executed by their own hand. According to the original description, the inscription bears the name of Bernard Lens and was written by his hand. The Artist – Bernard Lens III (1682–1740) Bernard Lens III was born in London in 1682 and died in 1740. He belonged to an English artistic family and was the son of Bernard Lens II, who worked in drawing, art instruction, and mezzotint engraving. Lens III is regarded as one of the prominent miniature painters active in England during the first half of the 18th century. He worked in London and painted portraits of members of the aristocracy, courtiers, and affluent families, alongside miniature copies of works by important painters of earlier generations. He was associated with royal court circles during the reigns of George I and George II and also taught miniature painting. Among his patrons and collectors were members of the Churchill family, including the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, as well as Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford. Lens was particularly known for his skill in painting with watercolours and bodycolour on vellum, using rich colouring, precise detail, and gold highlights. He also produced miniature copies of paintings by Rubens and Van Dyck, thereby contributing to the circulation of artistic and historical images among collectors of his time. Alongside his work as a portrait painter, Lens produced series of historical portraits, including depictions of kings and important figures from English history. His name is also associated with ebonised pearwood frames, now known as Lens Frames, used to display miniatures and small works. Historical Background – Henry II, King of England (1133–1189) Henry II was King of England from 1154 until his death in 1189 and is regarded as the founder of the Plantagenet dynasty in England. He was the son of Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, and Matilda, daughter of Henry I, King of England. In 1152, he married Eleanor of Aquitaine, whose previous marriage to the King of France had been annulled. This marriage expanded his territories on the European continent and made him one of the most powerful rulers in Western Europe during the 12th century. During his reign, Henry II worked to strengthen royal authority, develop the royal judicial system, and consolidate English institutions of government. His name is particularly associated with the development of English Common Law. One of the best-known events of his reign was his conflict with Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered in 1170. Henry II was the father of Richard I, known as Richard the Lionheart, and John, who reigned after him. The present portrait was not created during the king's lifetime but is a later historical representation produced in the 18th century, reflecting interest in the history of the English monarchy. Artistic Background – Series of Portraits of English Monarchs During the 18th Century During the 18th century, interest in royal history, national history, and the collecting of portraits of rulers and historical figures increased in Britain. Artists produced series of portraits of kings, queens, and statesmen, sometimes based on earlier historical images and sometimes on iconographic traditions developed in later generations. These series were intended for collectors, scholars, and members of high society, combining historical interest with artistic and decorative value. Bernard Lens III also worked on copies of historical portraits and miniature representations of figures from the past. The miniature of Henry II belongs to the “English Heads of State” series. Other works by Lens depicting English monarchs are known, including portraits of Richard III and Edward VI, signed with the initials BL and bearing historical inscriptions on their reverses. The similarities in the portrait format, the use of a blue background and gold paint, and the historical inscriptions provide an important comparative context for the present work. Provenance and Ownership History **The miniature was sold at Bonhams in 2003, as Lot 23.** Artistic and Collecting Significance The miniature combines several features of artistic, historical, and collecting interest: an attribution to an important documented artist, a monogram signature BL, dating to 1729, painting on vellum, the use of gold paint, a historical inscription on the reverse, and an ebonised wooden frame of the type associated with the artist. The portrait forms part of the tradition of depicting English monarchs in 18th-century miniature painting. Its relationship to other royal portraits by Bernard Lens III, together with the provenance documentation supplied by Bonhams, gives the work particular research and collecting interest. **Artist:** Bernard Lens III (1682–1740) **Subject:** Henry II, King of England (1133–1189) **Date:** 1729 **Period:** Early Georgian **Country of Origin:** England **Genre:** Historical Royal Portrait Miniature **Series:** English Heads of State **Technique:** Watercolours heightened with gold on vellum **Painting Diameter:** Approximately 5.1 cm **Frame Dimensions, Excluding Suspension Ring:** Approximately 9.2 × 9.2 cm **Frame:** Ebonised wood, probably pearwood, of Lens Frame type **Front:** Protected by bevelled glass **Signature:** Initials BL in gold paint **Reverse Inscription:** The king's name, the years of his reign, the artist's name, and the date 1729 **Provenance:** Bonhams, 2003, Lot 23
Auction 02: Rare 18th–19th Century Portrait Miniatures & Mourning Jewellery — Melis Antiques & Art