Bernard Lens III
Encyclopedia
Bernard Lens III was an English artist known primarily for his portrait miniature
s. Lens was the miniature painter at the courts of kings George I
and George II
, instructor in miniature painting (then called limning) to prince William and princesses Mary
and Louise
and consultant in fine arts to upper-class families.
engraver
Bernard Lens II
, was born in London in 1682 and in 1698 became an apprentice to an artist known as Sturt, quite likely his father's partner John Sturt
(1658–1730). Sturt was a member of the Company of Goldsmiths
, but the membership was merely a license to work within the City of London
, not an indicator of his actual trade.
In 1704 Lens joined the newly established Rose and Crown Club
, an art society frequented by William Hogarth
and George Vertue
. Lens established himself as a portrait miniaturist, and in 1707 became the first British artist to replace vellum
, the traditional medium of miniatures, with ivory
. The difficult skill of painting watercolours
on ivory was invented in Venice
by Rosalba Carriera
around 1700 and quickly spread over Europe. The style of Lens was close to that of Carriera, although Lens conservatively employed pencil sketches and heavier paints that reduced translucency of glazes over the ivory substrate. Dudley Heath and Marjorie Wieseman noted the contrast between the translucent, lightweight appearance of skin tones with solid, oil–like draperies and backgrounds. In line with the fashion of his period Lens, according to Heath, "seems to be partial to a very crude light blue in the costumes", inferior to the blues of older masters.
Bernard Lens III and his wife Katherine (née Woods) had at least three sons, among them Bernard Lens IV. All— though according to Horace Walpole
's Catalogue of Engravers only two of the three— became prolific draftsmen (Walpole: "ingenious painters in miniature") but did not leave a significant legacy; attribution of their artwork is problematic. One of these sons, miniaturist Peter Paul Lens (1714–1750), has painted the portrait of his father that is conserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum
. Another son, Andrew Benjamin Lens, born around 1713, also was a miniaturist.
His main competitor was Christian Friedrich Zincke
, who worked in enamel
. Horace Walpole
called Bernard Lens III "the incomparable painter in watercolours" and lamented that his copies of great masters "had all the merits of the originals except what they deserved too: duration." Dudley Heath, on the contrary, called Lens "hard and unappealing", inferior to Laurence Crosse.
Portrait miniature
A portrait miniature is a miniature portrait painting, usually executed in gouache, watercolour, or enamel.Portrait miniatures began to flourish in 16th century Europe and the art was practiced during the 17th century and 18th century...
s. Lens was the miniature painter at the courts of kings George I
George I of Great Britain
George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698....
and George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
, instructor in miniature painting (then called limning) to prince William and princesses Mary
Princess Mary of Great Britain
The Princess Mary was a member of the British Royal Family, a daughter of George II and Caroline of Ansbach.-Early life:...
and Louise
Louise of Great Britain
Louise of Great Britain was the youngest surviving daughter of George II of Great Britain and Caroline of Ansbach, and became queen consort of Denmark and Norway.-Early life:...
and consultant in fine arts to upper-class families.
Biography
Lens, the son of mezzotintMezzotint
Mezzotint is a printmaking process of the intaglio family, technically a drypoint method. It was the first tonal method to be used, enabling half-tones to be produced without using line- or dot-based techniques like hatching, cross-hatching or stipple...
engraver
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
Bernard Lens II
Bernard Lens II
Bernard Lens II was an English engraver, pioneer of mezzotint technique, and publisher.Bernard Lens II was the son of the first Bernard Lens, "an obscure painter" of Dutch origin...
, was born in London in 1682 and in 1698 became an apprentice to an artist known as Sturt, quite likely his father's partner John Sturt
John Sturt
John Sturt was an English engraver, apprenticed at 17 to Robert White, in whose manner he engraved a number of small portraits as frontispieces for books. Becoming associated with John Ayres, he engraved the most important of that writing-master's books on calligraphy.-References:**...
(1658–1730). Sturt was a member of the Company of Goldsmiths
Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Company, which has origins in the twelfth century, received a Royal Charter in 1327. It ranks fifth in the order of precedence of Livery Companies. Its motto is Justitia Virtutum Regina, Latin for Justice...
, but the membership was merely a license to work within the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, not an indicator of his actual trade.
In 1704 Lens joined the newly established Rose and Crown Club
Rose and Crown Club
The Rose and Crown Club was a club for artists, collectors and connoisseurs of art in early 18th-century London, England.-History:The Rose and Crown Club "for Eminent Artificers of this Nation" was formed by 1704, when the engraver George Vertue was admitted; while it lasted, the club was among...
, an art society frequented by William Hogarth
William Hogarth
William Hogarth was an English painter, printmaker, pictorial satirist, social critic and editorial cartoonist who has been credited with pioneering western sequential art. His work ranged from realistic portraiture to comic strip-like series of pictures called "modern moral subjects"...
and George Vertue
George Vertue
George Vertue was an English engraver and antiquary, whose notebooks on British art of the first half of the 18th century are a valuable source for the period.-Life:...
. Lens established himself as a portrait miniaturist, and in 1707 became the first British artist to replace vellum
Vellum
Vellum is mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on, to produce single pages, scrolls, codices or books. It is generally smooth and durable, although there are great variations depending on preparation, the quality of the skin and the type of animal used...
, the traditional medium of miniatures, with ivory
Ivory
Ivory is a term for dentine, which constitutes the bulk of the teeth and tusks of animals, when used as a material for art or manufacturing. Ivory has been important since ancient times for making a range of items, from ivory carvings to false teeth, fans, dominoes, joint tubes, piano keys and...
. The difficult skill of painting watercolours
Watercolor painting
Watercolor or watercolour , also aquarelle from French, is a painting method. A watercolor is the medium or the resulting artwork in which the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-soluble vehicle...
on ivory was invented in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
by Rosalba Carriera
Rosalba Carriera
Rosalba Carriera was a Venetian Rococo painter. In her younger years, she specialized in portrait miniatures...
around 1700 and quickly spread over Europe. The style of Lens was close to that of Carriera, although Lens conservatively employed pencil sketches and heavier paints that reduced translucency of glazes over the ivory substrate. Dudley Heath and Marjorie Wieseman noted the contrast between the translucent, lightweight appearance of skin tones with solid, oil–like draperies and backgrounds. In line with the fashion of his period Lens, according to Heath, "seems to be partial to a very crude light blue in the costumes", inferior to the blues of older masters.
Bernard Lens III and his wife Katherine (née Woods) had at least three sons, among them Bernard Lens IV. All— though according to Horace Walpole
Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford
Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford was an English art historian, man of letters, antiquarian and Whig politician. He is now largely remembered for Strawberry Hill, the home he built in Twickenham, south-west London where he revived the Gothic style some decades before his Victorian successors,...
's Catalogue of Engravers only two of the three— became prolific draftsmen (Walpole: "ingenious painters in miniature") but did not leave a significant legacy; attribution of their artwork is problematic. One of these sons, miniaturist Peter Paul Lens (1714–1750), has painted the portrait of his father that is conserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
. Another son, Andrew Benjamin Lens, born around 1713, also was a miniaturist.
His main competitor was Christian Friedrich Zincke
Christian Friedrich Zincke
Christian Friedrich Zincke was a German miniature painter active in England in the 18th century.-Life:He was born in Dresden and died in London. He apprenticed his father and also studied painting. In 1706 he came to London to work at Charles Boit's studio, and when Boit left for France 8 years...
, who worked in enamel
Vitreous enamel
Vitreous enamel, also porcelain enamel in U.S. English, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C...
. Horace Walpole
Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford
Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford was an English art historian, man of letters, antiquarian and Whig politician. He is now largely remembered for Strawberry Hill, the home he built in Twickenham, south-west London where he revived the Gothic style some decades before his Victorian successors,...
called Bernard Lens III "the incomparable painter in watercolours" and lamented that his copies of great masters "had all the merits of the originals except what they deserved too: duration." Dudley Heath, on the contrary, called Lens "hard and unappealing", inferior to Laurence Crosse.