Sir Peter Lely

Sir Peter Lely, September 14, 1618 – November 30, 1680, was a painter and draftsman born Pieter van der Faes in Soest, Westphalia. He trained in Haarlem and was active in England from the 1640s.

Lely worked in portraiture, mythological and biblical subjects, and drawings. After the Restoration he became the leading court portraitist in England and was appointed Principal Painter to King Charles II in 1661. He was knighted in 1680.

His work includes portraits of members of the Stuart court and aristocracy, images of royal and literary figures, and early narrative paintings. Lely died in London in 1680.

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