19 Portraits of Barbara Villiers; Duchess of Cleveland and mistress to King Charles II

Sir Peter Lely (14 September 1618–30 November 1680) was a painter of Dutch origin, whose career was nearly all spent in England, where he became the dominant portrait painter to the court. Lely studied painting in Haarlem. He became a master of the Guild of Saint Luke in Haarlem in 1637.

He arrived in London in around 1641. His early English paintings, mainly mythological or religious scenes, or portraits. Lely’s portraits were well received, and he succeeded Anthony van Dyck as the most fashionable portrait artist in England. He became a freeman of the Painter-Stainers’ Company in 1647 and was portrait artist to Charles I. His talent ensured that his career was not interrupted by Charles’s execution, and he served Oliver and Richard Cromwell. More on Sir Peter Lely

Barbara was the subject of many portraits, in particular by court painter Sir Peter Lely. Her extravagance, foul temper and promiscuity provoked diarist John Evelyn into describing her as the “curse of the nation”, whereas Samuel Pepys often noted seeing her, admiringly…

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