The painting that made Peter Lely famous is Queen Mary II (1677); it hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, London. James VII and II, when Duke of York (1661) and Portrait of a man, thought to be George Booth, Lord Delamere (1660) follow it in the hearts of collectors and museum visitors. Of the 240 works by Peter Lely in our catalogue, these 100 are the most admired, each presented with its date, its museum and what sets it apart.
Ranked by our popularity score, which combines the searches, visits and orders for each work. Updated October 2026. Every masterpiece on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, at the size you choose.
In this oil on canvas, Peter Lely captures Queen Mary II at a threshold of life and sovereignty. Painted about 1677, the portrait finds the subject at the age of fifteen. She is the eldest daughter of James, Duke of York, and Anne Hyde. A quiet stillness settles over the young woman, even as her life moves toward the gravity of the throne.
In this commanding 1661 portrait, Sir Peter Lely captures the essence of a man destined for the throne: James VII and II during his tenure as the Duke of York. The painting serves as a breathtaking window into the late Stuart period, presenting a subject of profound importance with an air of effortless sophistication. Clad in a magnificent gold coat that catches the light, accented by a striking red sash,…
A man of significant standing is captured in this mid-seventeenth-century oil on canvas, his presence defined by a heavy, dark suit and a prominent collar. He holds a piece of paper, a gesture suggesting literacy, legal authority, or perhaps a specific political mandate. His long, curly hair and well-groomed beard frame a face marked by intricate detail, conveying a sense of individual temperament. The composition focuses on the interplay between…
The sitter emerges from a shadowed landscape, a vision of 17th-century nobility caught in a moment of quiet poise. Henrietta Boyle, Countess of Rochester, is rendered with a serene expression that masks a subtle, underlying gravity. Her gown, a luminous sky blue, catches the light from the upper left, casting soft shadows into the voluminous folds of silk. A string of pearls rests against her neck, their pale luster contrasting…
The room seems to quiet as Elizabeth Lady Monson meets the viewer's gaze. She sits in a three-quarter length pose, her body angled with a poise that speaks of a life lived within the high circles of the court. A deep, cerulean blue velvet gown envelops her, the heavy fabric catching the light in a way that suggests both weight and a soft, lustrous sheen. This intense blue cuts through…
This formal and somber seventeenth-century oil portrait depicts Oliver Cromwell in a bust-length composition. Positioned slightly off-center and looking toward the right of the frame, the subject is presented within a painted trompe l'oeil oval frame. The color palette is dominated by dark, earthy tones, including deep browns, blacks, and shadows, which contrast sharply against the bright white of the subject's collar and the metallic highlights of his armor.
The air feels heavy with the scent of damp earth and blooming roses as Lady Penelope Spencer pauses in a quiet, shadowed landscape. She exists in a moment of poised stillness, her gaze meeting the viewer with a grace that suggests both high status and a gentle, private thought. The light, streaming from the upper left, washes over her skin with a soft, luminous glow, catching the delicate curve of…
Sir Peter Lely’s depiction of Henrietta Maria, Queen consort of England during the tumultuous reign of Charles I, transcends mere likeness; it embodies the grandeur and anxieties of a pivotal moment in British history. Born in Soest, Westphalia, in 1618 amidst the shadow of the Thirty Years' War, Lely possessed an artistic lineage rooted in both Flemish meticulousness and burgeoning Baroque dynamism—a duality that profoundly shaped his oeuvre.
The Portrait of George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, English Admiral and Statesman is an oil on canvas work by the artist Pieter Van Der Faes (Peter Lely). This portrait captures George Monk (1608-69), 1st Duke of Albemarle, in a moment of formal stillness. The paint holds the weight of a man defined by his titles and his service to the crown.
Edward Montagu, first Earl of Sandwich, is presented in a formal, full-length Baroque portrait that asserts his high social standing and political importance. He stands with an imposing presence, his figure slightly off-center against a dark, shadowy background. The composition utilizes a vertical arrangement to emphasize his stature. Light enters from the upper left, striking his face and the brilliant white satin of his garments, while the rest of the…
A young man sits suspended in a moment of quietude, his presence defined by the heavy, luminous folds of a golden ochre silk robe. The fabric catches a…
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Diana Kirke, later Countess of Oxford is a portrait executed by Sir Peter Lely. Created about 1665, the work captures the likeness of the sitter in a formal…
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A three-quarter length portrait of a nobleman, positioned slightly off-center and leaning against a classical stone plinth. The subject, Sir John Nicholas, is rendered with a calm expression…
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The oil on canvas titled Arthur Capel, 1st Earl of Essex; Elizabeth, Countess of Essex captures a moment of aristocratic stillness. Sir Peter Lely rendered the figures with…
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In this 1665 portrait, we encounter Lady Diana Bruce in a moment of quiet, aristocratic poise. She is positioned in a three-quarter view, her silhouette emerging from a…
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This portrait of George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, was painted by Peter Lely in about 1675. The subject is depicted as a man of significant social and…
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Nymphs by a Fountain is an oil on canvas by Peter Lely. The artist, born in Soest, Germany, in 1618, produced this work around 1650. Lely remained a…
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The sitter, Henrietta Anne, Duchess of Orleans, is presented in a three-quarter view within an oval-shaped format. She is positioned against a dark, shadowed background that pushes her…
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In this 1662 portrait, Peter Lely presents Anne Hyde, Duchess of York (1637-71). The sitter is depicted as a single female figure, captured in a moment of quiet…
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In this oil on canvas, we find a formal three-quarter-length depiction of John Maitland, 2nd Earl and 1st Duke of Lauderdale, 1616 - 1682. Statesman. The artist, Peter…
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In this bust-length portrait, we encounter Anna Maria Talbot, née Brudenell, Countess of Shrewsbury, presented within an illusionistic painted oval frame. The composition is quiet, yet it carries…
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This three-quarter length portrait presents a noblewoman positioned slightly off-center, creating a balanced yet dynamic arrangement. The subject is depicted with a sense of poised dignity, her skin…
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The Portrait of Aphra Behn is an oil on canvas painting by Sir Peter Lely. The subject of this work is Aphra Behn. It is a formal bust-length…
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This oil on canvas presents John Hay, 1st Marquess of Tweeddale, 1626 - 1697. Lord High Chancellor of Scotland. The portrait is the work of Sir Peter Lely.…
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In this intimate bust portrait, we find ourselves in a private moment with a young man, often identified as Samuel Pepys. The composition is quiet, almost hushed, as…
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This portrait, titled Henry Marten (Martin), was executed by the artist Peter Lely. The work dates to about 1650. It depicts the subject, Henry Marten, in a bust-length…
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Sir Peter Lely captures the likeness of Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester, in this oil on canvas. Created about 1661-1665, the portrait presents a man of significant…
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The oil on canvas titled James Sharp, 1618 - 1679. Archbishop of St. Andrews presents a formal portrait of the subject. This work, created by the artist Peter…
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In this three-quarter length portrait, we encounter a man captured with a quiet, dignified presence. Painted by the hand of Peter Lely, the work dates to about 1660,…
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This oil on canvas portrait depicts Simon Patrick and was executed by the artist Peter Lely. The work is dated about 1668. It is held within the National…
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Margaret Brooke, Lady Denham (ca 1647-67) is a portrait by Sir Peter Lely. This work belongs to the Windsor Beauties, a series of portraits produced in the early…
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In this 1659 portrait, we encounter a young woman emerging from a deep, near-black background. The composition is a bust-length study, positioned slightly off-center to create a sense…
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This portrait of John Ogilby, executed by Peter Lely, offers a quiet glimpse into the likeness of a man of significant intellectual pursuits. Created in 1662, the work…
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A young woman reclines in a state of repose, her pale skin emerging from a dark, indistinct background through a dramatic use of chiaroscuro. Beside her, an older,…
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This oil on canvas portrait, titled Unknown woman, formerly known as Elizabeth Hamilton, Countess de Gramont, was executed by the artist Peter Lely. The work dates to 1665.…
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This portrait of Bartholomew Beale, painted by Sir Peter Lely, captures a young man at a threshold of identity. Created about 1670, the work presents the son of…
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This oil on canvas portrait, titled King James II, was executed by the artist Peter Lely. The work is dated about 1667. It depicts a man, identified as…
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Portrait of P. Lenéve, Alderman of Norwich is an oil on canvas painted by Peter Lely between 1656 and 1658. The sitter, a prominent Alderman of Norwich, is…
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The oil painting titled Diana and her Nymphs at a Fountain captures a moment of classical myth. It was executed by the artist Peter Lely. The work dates…
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In this portrait, the poet Abraham Cowley is captured by the brush of Sir Peter Lely. The sitter emerges from a dark, heavy atmosphere, his presence defined by…
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This portrait by Peter Lely depicts Sir Edward Nicholas. Dated 1662, the work presents the subject as a man of significant political standing. Nicholas was an English officeholder…
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The oil on canvas titled Anne Hyde, Duchess of York; King James II presents a formal union of two figures. Sir Peter Lely captured the likenesses of Anne…
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Portrait of Anne Digby, Countess of Sunderland is a formal oil on canvas by the artist Peter Lely. Created about 1666, the work presents the subject, Anne Digby,…
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Henry Stone is a portrait executed by Peter Lely in 1648. The work captures the subject in a three-quarter length composition, presenting a formal study of character and…
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In this bust-length portrait, Lady Frances Savile, Later Lady Brudenell, is presented by Peter Lely in a composition that utilizes a painted trompe l'oeil oval frame. This framing…
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The four subjects that return most often among these masterpieces, with the finest example of each.
The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Peter Lely | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 National Portrait Gallery |
London | 18 | Queen Mary II, Arthur Capel, 1st Earl of Essex; Elizabeth, Countess of Essex, George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham |
 Petworth House |
Petworth | 10 | Lady Anne Percy, Lady Stanhope (1633-1654) or Lady Isabella Sydney, Viscountess Strangford (d.1663), The Three Younger Children of Charles I, Lady Elizabeth Percy, Lady Capel, later Countess of Essex (1636 - 1717/18) |
 Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery |
Birmingham | 6 | Portrait of Elizabeth Lady Monson, Portrait of Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), Portrait Of Sir John Nicholas |
 Yale Center for British Art |
New Haven | 6 | Edward Montagu, first Earl of Sandwich, Sir Ralph Bankes, Diana Kirke, later Countess of Oxford |
 Ham House |
14 | Elizabeth Murray, Countess of Dysart, later Duchess of Lauderdale (1626-1698), Sir William Compton (1625-1663), An Unknown Gentleman, called Lionel Tollemache, 3rd Earl of Dysart (1649-1727) | |
 Scottish National Portrait Gallery |
Edinburgh | 8 | James VII and II, when Duke of York, John Maitland, 2nd Earl and 1st Duke of Lauderdale, 1616 - 1682. Statesman, John Hay, 1st Marquess of Tweeddale, 1626 - 1697. Lord High Chancellor of Scotland |
 Hampton Court Palace |
London | 11 | Henrietta Boyle, Countess of Rochester (1646-1687), Anne Hyde, Duchess of York (1637-71), Margaret Brooke, Lady Denham (ca 1647-67) |
 Kingston Lacy |
Wimborne Minster | 7 | N. Wray, The Penitent Magdalen, Sir Ralph Bankes, MP (?1631-1677) |
The oil painting titled Diana and her Nymphs at a Fountain captures a moment of classical myth. It was executed by the artist Peter Lely. The work dates…
This formal and somber seventeenth-century oil portrait depicts Oliver Cromwell in a bust-length composition. Positioned slightly off-center and looking toward the right of the frame, the subject is…
In this commanding 1661 portrait, Sir Peter Lely captures the essence of a man destined for the throne: James VII and II during his tenure as the Duke…
In this oil on canvas, Peter Lely captures Queen Mary II at a threshold of life and sovereignty. Painted about 1677, the portrait finds the subject at the…
This oil on canvas portrait depicts Simon Patrick and was executed by the artist Peter Lely. The work is dated about 1668. It is held within the National…
Queen Mary II (1677), National Portrait Gallery, London. Next come James VII and II, when Duke of York (1661) and Portrait of a man, thought to be George Booth, Lord Delamere (1660).
59 years old: Queen Mary II dates from 1677 and Peter Lely was born in 1618.
Queen Mary II, James VII and II, when Duke of York, Portrait of a man, thought to be George Booth, Lord Delamere, Henrietta Boyle, Countess of Rochester (1646-1687), Portrait of Elizabeth Lady Monson, Portrait of Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), Portrait of Lady Penelope Spencer, Henrietta Maria of France, Queen of England, Portrait of George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, English Admiral and Statesman and Edward Montagu, first Earl of Sandwich. The ranking above gives the year and the museum of each.
Our catalogue lists 240 works by Peter Lely, dated from 1640 to 1680.
Most of them are in National Portrait Gallery (London), Petworth House (Petworth) and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (Birmingham). The table above lists the museums one by one.
In 1660s: 41 of the 100 works on this page date from then, among them James VII and II, when Duke of York.
The earliest on this page is John Bainbridge (1582–1643) and daughter (1640), the latest Simon Patrick (1680).
Man (24), Woman (19) and Lace (12), among the 100 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas: 40 of the 100 works on this page.
Baroque, as the paintings on this page show.
Queen Mary II, Arthur Capel, 1st Earl of Essex; Elizabeth, Countess of Essex and George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham are among the 15 works on this page held by the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Yes. Every painting on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, in the size you choose, from the painting's own page.
