You can contact us with the problem you are having and we will investigate.
Stripe Online Payments
Sellingantiques have now partnered with Stripe card processing to give you a seamless purchase experience of antiques on sellingantiques.
Millions of companies of all sizes use Stripe online to accept payments and is the worlds No.1 payment gateway.
So how does it work: Look for the button in the antique details page to instantly purchase antiques from dealers who have activated Stripe online payments.
You can now easily filter and show antiques that only have this option enabled.
Using this button notifies us immediately that you have purchased this item. Once you have made the payment we will instantly mark it as sold to ensure that no one else can buy it.
Discounts can also be made available.
We are always improving the purchase experience for both buyer and seller and more and more dealers are enabling this option each week.
Portrait Of A Gentleman, William Seymour, 3rd Duke Of Somerset (1652-1671) C.1658/60; Studio Of Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680), Antique Oil On Canvas Painting
Status:This item has been sold Sold by:Titan Fine Art
This exquisite portrait, datable to crica 1658-60, depicts William Seymour, Duke of Somerset, Marquis of Hertford, Viscount Beauchamp, and Baron Seymour. He was the son of Henry Seymour, Lord Beauchamp and Mary Capell, sister of the 1st Earl of Essex.
The portrait was painted in the studio of the court painter, Sir Peter Lely. Standing in a porch with classical architecture, resting one arm on a plinth whilst the other holds a pike, he is shown with the grandiloquence characteristic of a nobleman. The Roman attire was often used in portraits at this time to provide a sense of timelessness as rapid changes in fashion quickly made portraits appear outdated. The attire, the classical architecture, and the moody sky evokes an Arcadian setting; contemporary audiences were educated and familiar with Latin and Greek poetry and the mere inclusion of such motifs were immediately recognised.
Duke of Somerset, from the county of Somerset, is a title that has been created five times. I...t is particularly associated with two families: the Beauforts (creation of 1448) and the Seymours (creation of 1547) who were descendants of Edward III (1312-1377) and resided at Wulfhall from 1427, the childhood home of Henry VII’s third wife, Jane Seymour, made famous by Hilary Mantel’s historical novel, “Wolf Hall”. Inscribed lower right with the identity of the sitter.
Another studio version is in the collection at Longleat House. It was common for several versions of a portrait (by the same hand or another) to be commissioned for different homes, as gifts to children or friends, or descendants wishing to show their noble lineage – both at the time and later in the 18th century. A portrait of “The Duke of Somerset” was sold in 1682 in Lely’s estate sale after his death described as: ‘Copies after Sir Peter Lely, left in his House at his decease, to be Sold with the rest''.
The work is presented in a very impressive and unusual carved antique frame – a fine work of art in itself.
Sir Peter Lely’s character and art dominated the art world of the second half of the seventeenth century in England. Everyone of consequence in his age sat to him, and it is in his portraits that we form our conception of English portraiture during the Protectorate and years following the Restoration.
He was born in Soest, Westphalia in 1618. He studied in Haarlem before moving to London in 1641, and in 1647 he became a freeman of the Painter-Stainers’ Company. He was employed by the Duke of Northumberland, who had the royal children in his care, and he was able to study the Northumberland Collection of works by Van Dyke and Dobson. By the end of the Commonwealth, he had become the best-known portraitist in England and in 1661 he was appointed Principal Painter to the King. He painted the most elite and influential members of the court and of everyone of importance. His success thus meant that he established the basic English portrait style for decades.
By the end of his life he had assembled one the finest non-princely collections in Europe including more than 25 of Van Dyke’s major English works, Old Masters including Veronese, Titian, Claude Lorrain and Rubens, and a fabulous collection of drawings.
Much more info about this item at: www.titanfineart.com
In a market saturated with available paintings, Titan Fine Art offers a distinct advantage: we sift through thousands of works to provide a specially curated selection. Each piece is meticulously chosen based on technical merit, provenance, and decorative appeal, ensuring our clients view only the finest examples of British and European art.
With over 20 years of expertise and 1,000+ works placed with collectors and institutions, we are one of the most prolific specialists in 17th and 18th-century portraiture. We combine a scholarly approach with museum-level rigor to replace the uncertainty of the open market with absolute confidence.
Why Buy From Titan Fine Art?
• Expertly Curated Selection
We act as your expert eye, selecting only high-quality works that offer genuine historical and artistic value.
• Museum-Level Research
Each portrait is supported by extensive academic research, often exceeding 40 hours, to establish attribution, sitter identity, and historical context.
• Professional Conservation
All paintings are carefully cleaned and stabilised by professional conservators, and are presented ready to hang.
• Transparent Pricing
No buyer’s premium or hidden fees—unlike auction houses, where additional costs can add 25–35%.
• Export Pricing Advantage
Reduced pricing is available for works exported outside the UK.
• Specialist Global Shipping
We manage the entire process, including custom crating, export documentation, and fully tracked delivery worldwide.
• Buy with Confidence
A 7-day return policy and the option to pay in GBP, USD, or EUR for convenience and transparency.
• Original Period Frames
Many works retain their original carved and gilded frames, which are works of art in their own right and enhance both historical authenticity and decorative impact.
• Personal Advisory Service
We work directly with collectors and interior designers, offering guidance on selection, scale, and placement—including bespoke room mock-ups on request.
Subscribe to our monthly 'new item alert' to be the first to hear about new works
Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA998454
Dateline of this antique is 17th Century
Height is 145cm (57.1inches)Width is 123cm (48.4inches)Depth is 10cm (3.9inches)
Antique SA998454 shown on this page was made in the 17th Century. For historical context, the timeline below highlights the period when it was created:
←C17th
ANTIQUE SA998454
CONTACT DETAILS OF SELLER:
Titan Fine Art
Specialist in 17th & 18thC portraits. Highly curated selection, museum-level research & pro conservation. Exceptional art, expertly vetted.
London
United Kingdom
Tel: 07875 412 111
STATUS
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD
Thank you.
Your comment has been sent to Sellingantiques.
Thank you.
Your rating and comment have been sent to Sellingantiques.
Thank you.
Your score has been recieved.
Thanks. But what can we do better?
SEND COMMENT
If you would like to be contacted to discuss your feedback then please leave a phone number or email address in your message.
Thanks for your great feedback!
We love it when our wonderful visitors are happy with us!
SEND COMMENT
Live daily database information for 18 July 2026
Antiques approved in last 24 hours
26
Antiques awaiting approval
12
Antiques rejected in last 24 hours
0
Unique visitors today
6346
Total antique impressions today
1086671
Total antiques for sale
67087
Total value of antiques for sale
£139274401
Antiques uploaded so far in July 2026
2462
Unique visitors to Sellingantiques so far in July 2026
256120
Unique visitors to Sellingantiques so far in 2026
3817660
Item saved
The Portrait of a Gentleman, William Seymour, 3rd Duke of Somerset (1652-1671) c.1658/60; Studio of Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680), Antique oil on canvas painting has been added to your saved items.
Sending email ...
... please wait
Sending Email...
... please wait
Problem with this page?
You can contact us with the problem you are having and we will investigate.
Sending an email to: Titan Fine Art
Item: #SA998454 Portrait of a Gentleman, William Seymou...
Thank you.
Your comment has been sent to Sellingantiques.