Raphe Worsley of Platt Hall, Manchester

Sir Peter Lely (school of) 1618 - 1680

Summary

This is a portrait of Raphe Worsley (1592-1669), the son of a Manchester linen draper. His father bought land in Rusholme in 1614, and in 1625 Raphe began the family connection with Platt by buying the estate there from the Platt family. Worsley is shown in sober working dress of the period: a black, buttoned coat with a square, plain, white collar of fine linen. His brown hair is shoulder-length and slightly untidy, his gaze serious and direct. The background is dark and neutral, with a painted stone oval surround. Dutch-born Peter Lely dominated English portraiture from 1650 until his death. This painting is by a follower of Lely and was probably executed within that period, 1650-1660, when Lely himself was at the height of his powers and popularity. provenance : by descent in Worsley family. In the opinion of Sir Oliver Millar, given verbally, it is c1650-60 by an unknown, but competent, artist. Richard Jeffree (letter 22.10.1976 - from photo) : style derives from Lely of c1650. 'Could be a copy of a Lely by a distinct, quite individual hand of some accomplishment'. Raphe (or Ralph) Worsley was the father of Major-General Charles Worsley, portrait of whom was purchased in 1946 (see notes for 1946.127).