Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the Before 1700 period.
A beautiful portrait of a beautiful young woman; she regards us with a coolly provocative look.
Melancholia was considered the sign of a sensitive, intelligent and poetic nature.
This was a pose much used by Lely; he painted Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine, Duchess of Cleveland and long term mistress of Charles II in similar poses several times, only the position of the head is different. See Image 5, painted in 1662 when Barbara was 22 years old, where she wears exactly the same clothes and jewellery as in this painting.
SIR PETER LELY (1618 - 1680) was the most important portraitist in the reign of Charles ll, although he had painted portraits throughout the Commonwealth. Principal Painter to the King, he painted everyone of importance, maintaining a busy and active Studio to help with the huge demand for his portraits. Members of his Circle, and his Followers, many of them talented artists in their own right, emulated his style to supply this constant market.
SIZE:54 x 44 inches inc. frame.
PROVENANCE:Old English Collection.
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the Before 1700 period.
Roy and nadine precious: specialists in portraiture from the 16th to the 20th century. Established in 1972.
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Portrait of a Lady, Possibly Barbara Villiers, C.1662; Circle or Studio of Lely.
