A half-length portrait of a lady dressed in expensive finery, circle of Sir Peter Lely. She wears a peach silk dress and blue robe and is pictured with droplet pearl earrings and matching necklace. Pearls such as these were demonstrations of high social rank. This combined with her dress and bearing all point towards her being a lady of some standing and character as she stares confidently out at the viewer. She holds what is very likely to be Jasmine flowers in her hand, which in addition to being very fragrant are symbols of love, purity and modesty.

The portrait is traditionally identified as Princess Henrietta Anne Stuart who was the daughter of Charles I. She was born in 1644 the youngest daughter of Charles I. Due to the Civil War she had to flee the country to live in France with her mother. She married Phillip I, Duke of Orleans and was instrumental in diplomatic negotiations between England and France. She died in 1670. The portrait has clearly been painted by an artist of great ability who has been influenced by Sir Peter Lely.

Sir Peter Lely was the leading portrait painter working in England at the court of Charles II during the mid to late 17th century. He was born Pieter van Faes to Dutch parents in Soest, Germany. He studied in Haarlem where he is thought to been apprenticed to Pieter de Grebber. He adopted the surname Lely after becoming a master of the Guild in Haarlem in 1637. He settled in London in 1641 where he became a highly successful court painter of portraits. Lely's talent was such that his career progressed after Charles I’s execution, and he served both Cromwell and Charles II.

© Benton Fine Art