Portrait of a lady, three-quarter-length, in a blue dress beside classical relief, a lake beyond

Charles Jervas, who was born in Ireland, studied under Sir Godfrey Kneller (from circa 1694-5). He travelled to Italy via Paris in 1698 and had settled in Rome by 1703, where he remained until 1709, where George Vertue noted that he was known as 'Carlo Jervasi' and 'Esteemed' as a 'good, engenious [sic] painter'. On his return to London he became fashionable as a portrait painter partly on account of his friendships in literary circles and he succeeded Kneller as Principal Painter to King George I in 1723. He remained in London until his death but also made regular trips to Ireland.