Changing Display: Bernard Lens

portrait miniature, Bernard Lens

  • Peter Paul Lens, portrait of Bernard Lens



    Peter Paul Lens (about 1714-50)
    Portrait of Bernard Lens, the artist's father
    1734
    Watercolour on ivory
    Signed lower left, 'P.P. Lens', and dated '1734'. Inscribed by the artist on the back, 'Bernard Lens / Minature Painter / to his Majesty King George / ye Second', and in Latin, 'P.P.Lens made this' and '1733 Febry y[e] 13'
    Museum no. P.20-1946
    Purchased with funds from the R.H. Stephenson Bequest

    Bernard Lens' grandfather and father were both called Bernard Lens. His grandfather was apparently a 'Dutch preacher' and a painter. His father was a drawing master and printmaker based in London.

  • Bernard Lens, portrait of Andrew Benjamin Lens



    Bernard Lens (1682-1740)
    Portrait of Andrew Benjamin Lens, the artist's son
    1723
    Watercolour on vellum stuck to card
    Signed lower left 'BL' in monogram, and dated '1723'. Inscribed faintly on the backing paper, 'A…B… in Lens/… May 25 1723' and in Latin, 'B Lens made this.'
    Museum no. P.40-1922

    Andrew Benjamin Lens (born about 1713) was also a miniature painter.

  • Bernard Lens, portrait of Katherine Whitmore



    Bernard Lens (1682-1740)
    Portrait of Katherine Whitmore
    1724
    Watercolour on ivory, over graphite underdrawing
    Signed lower right 'BL' in monogram. Inscribed on the back, 'Katherine / the daughter of Willm./ and Eliz: Whitmore / 2 years old / painted by B. Lens / Sep. 1724'. A label at the back reads, 'Katherine. Born 1722, married O.S. Brereton Esq. Recorder of Liverpool, died 1800'
    Museum no. P.14-1971

    This was one of a group of 15 miniatures by Lens of the Whitmore family. He copied their striking blue backgrounds from Elizabethan miniatures.

  • Bernard Lens, portrait of Colonel Thomas Weld



    Bernard Lens (1682-1740)
    Portrait of Colonel Thomas Weld
    1718
    Watercolour on ivory, over graphite underdrawing
    Signed lower right 'BL' in monogram. Inscribed on paper support 'Col Tho. Weld /son of Geo. Weld /of Willy esq / an.1718 /by B.Lens'
    Museum no. P.63-1987

    This is one of a group of miniatures of Colonel Weld's family. He was related by marriage to the family of Katherine Whitmore. Lens probably travelled out of London to paint such family groups.

  • Bernard Lens, portrait of a Woman



    Bernard Lens (1682-1740)
    Portrait of a woman, said to be Mary Queen of Scots
    About 1720
    Watercolour on ivory
    Signed lower right, 'BL' in monogram and inscribed in Latin over the sitter's head 'Mary Queen of Scots'
    Museum no. P.62-1987

    This is a copy of a miniature thought to be of Mary Queen of Scots. The portrait was hugely popular. It was reproduced endlessly in print and Lens made numerous copies.

  • Bernard Lens, portrait of James I



    Bernard Lens
    Portrait of James I, after Nicholas Hilliard
    About 1730–9
    watercolour on vellum
    Signed lower right ‘BL’ in monogram and inscribed on the back ‘James Ye I / after Hilyard’ and in Latin ‘Bern Lewis [Lens] made this / 1735’
    Museum no. E.594-1994

    It was fashionable in the 18th century to collect prints of famous people. Bernard Lens provided up-market versions of such portraits, painted in miniature.

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