Sir Peter Lely

Sir Peter Lely (1618–1680), born Pieter van der Faes in Soest, was a Dutch-born painter who became the leading portraitist in England during the mid- to late-17th century. Trained in Haarlem, he moved to London around 1643, succeeding Anthony van Dyck as the most fashionable artist of the day. Lely painted for both Royalists and Parliamentarians, serving as portraitist to Charles I, Oliver Cromwell, and, after the Restoration, Charles II, who appointed him Principal Painter in Ordinary in 1661. Known for his elegant, idealized portraits—particularly of women—he produced celebrated series such as the Windsor Beauties and the Flagmen of Lowestoft. Lely played a key role in introducing mezzotint engraving to Britain, encouraging its use to reproduce and popularize his portraits. Knighted in 1679, he died the following year while at work in his Covent Garden studio, leaving behind a prolific body of work that shaped English portraiture for a generation.