Stipple and steel engraving by eminent portrait engraver Thomas Wright (1792-1849), after the painting by Sir Peter Lely for the series on Beauties of the Court of Charles the Second, published in London circa 1838. Fine later hand-colour accentuates the beauty of this portrait
Sir Peter Lely, originally, Pieter van der Faes, was born in Westphalia (Germany) in 1618, and died in London in 1680. His adoption of the name Lely, was thought to relate to the lily carved on the gable of the Van der Faes family home in The Hague. He was educated in Holland at Haarlem, and moved to London around 1643.When he arrived in London he was known as Pieter Lelye. He was portrait artist to Charles I, Oliver Cromwell, and principal painter to Charles II. Lely established his reputation as an artist in the middle of the 17th century, for his Baroque-style portraits of aristocracy.