Peter Lely

Sir Peter Lely was born in Soest, Wesphalia, September 14, 1618 and died in London, November 30, 1680.

Dutch-born and trained, Lely succeeded Van Dyck as the dominant portrait painter in London, where he had settled by 1647. Although early in his career Lely painted historical and mythological subjects, he is identified primarily as a courtly and aristocratic portrait painter. His career prospered even during the years of the Commonwealth, and on the Restoration he was made Principal Painter to Charles II. The Duke of York commissioned a series of portraits of women of the court, which became famous as the Beauties. Because of the large demand for his work, Lely relied on studio assistants and died a wealthy man with a large art collection. He was knighted in the year of his death.