Charles Jervas

Charles Jervas was a portrait painter of early 18th century London, remembered above all for his friendships with the writers of his day. His portraits are elegant and softly painted, with sitters shown in loose drapery in the fashion of the time.

He was born in Shinrone, County Offaly, in Ireland, and trained in London as an assistant to Sir Godfrey Kneller. He then spent most of a decade studying in Paris and Rome. In 1723 he succeeded Kneller as Principal Painter to George I and continued under George II. He was a close friend of Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope, gave Pope painting lessons, and Pope wrote a poem to him. His portraits of Pope and Swift are in the National Portrait Gallery in London. He also translated Don Quixote.

His portrait of Alexander Pope shows the poet as his friend knew him, thoughtful and alert.