A Lady Holding a Rose

Sir Peter Lely (school of) 1618 - 1680

Summary

This picture of a lady holding a rose may have been painted by a follower of Sir Peter Lely. The painting, and in particular the dress, owe a clear debt to another painting in the collection of Manchester Art Gallery, which is itself a variant of a portrait of Elizabeth Trentham, Viscountess Cullen (164-1713), at Kingston Lacy. The Dutch-born painter Peter Lely was the most important British portraitist from 1650 until his death, and a renowned successor to Van Dyck. In 1660 he was appointed court portrait painter to Charles II. His output was extensive and he employed many studio assistants, only painting the heads from life.