Peter
Lely, the son of a military officer stationed abroad, was born at
Soest in Westphalia in 1618. He studied art in Haarlem before moving
to London in 1641.
Lely
established himself as one of the country's most important portrait
painters. Influenced by the work of Anthony
Van Dyck and William Dobson, Lely
painted portraits of Charles I, Oliver
Cromwell and
other leading political figures. On the Restoration
the
new king, Charles II, appointed Lely
as his Principal Painter.
Sir Peter Lely died in
1680.
Oliver
Cromwell by Sir Peter Lely (c.1653)
Available
from Amazon Books (order below)
