Charles Jervas

1675 - 1739

Essentials

  • Top 3 works:
    • John Campbell, 3rd Earl of Breadalbane, 1696 - 1782. (as a child in highland costume)
    • Jonathan Swift
    • William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland
  • Corpus themes: studied under godfrey kneller
  • Vibe: luxurious
  • Top-ranked work: John Campbell, 3rd Earl of Breadalbane, 1696 - 1782. (as a child in highland costume)
  • Color intensity: monochromatic
  • Copyright status: Public domain
  • Typical colors: espresso
  • Emotional tone: powerful

early life and training

charles jervas, an irish portrait painter, translator, and art collector, was born in clonlisk, county offaly, ireland around 1675. he was the son of john jervas and elizabeth, daughter of captain john baldwin of shinrone castle & corolanty, high sheriff of county offaly. jervas studied in london, england as an assistant under sir godfrey kneller between 1694 and 1695.

rise to prominence

after selling a series of small copies of the raphael cartoons circa 1698 to dr. george clarke of all souls college, oxford, jervas travelled to paris and rome (financially supported by clarke and others) remaining there for most of the decade before returning to london in 1709. there, he found success as a portrait painter, capturing the likenesses of the city's intellectuals, including personal friends jonathan swift and alexander pope (now in the national portrait gallery, london).

notable works and legacy

* portrait of jonathan swift (1710s) - a testament to jervas' skill in capturing the essence of his subjects. * portrait of alexander pope (1710s) - a notable example of jervas' ability to convey the character of his sitters. * translation of don quixote (published posthumously in 1742) - jervas' translation, known as "the jarvis translation," was praised for its accuracy but criticized for being stiff and humourless. key dates:
  • 1675: born in clonlisk, county offaly, ireland
  • 1694-1695: studied under sir godfrey kneller in london
  • 1709: returned to london after time in paris and rome
  • 1723: succeeded sir godfrey kneller as principal portrait painter to king george i
  • 1739: died in london
for more on charles jervas' artworks, visit charles jervas | WahooArt.com. explore the national portrait gallery, london, which features many of jervas' notable works, including his portraits of jonathan swift and alexander pope.

Questions & Answers

What are the birthplace and birth year of Charles Jervas?

Charles Jervas was born in Dublin in 1675.

Can I browse Charles Jervas's works by color palette?

To find works by Charles Jervas in a specific palette, use the artist's By Palettes page.

How do I find works by Charles Jervas on a specific theme?

To find works by Charles Jervas on a specific theme, use the artist's By Keywords page, which groups the artworks by keyword.

How do I find all works by Charles Jervas in a given medium?

The All Medium page groups Charles Jervas's artworks by technique.

Test your eye

There is only one correct answer for each question.

Question 1:
Where was Charles Jervas born?
Question 2:
Who mentored Jervas in London during his formative years?
Question 3:
What notable literary work did Jervas translate posthumously?
Question 4:
Which King appointed Jervas as Principal Painter in Ordinary?
Question 5:
With whom did Jervas collaborate closely on artistic projects and literary endeavors?