Portrait of a nobleman, traditionally identified as the Duke of Monmouth, holding a coronet in his left hand, leaning against a stone ledge, a landscape beyond

Details

Sir Peter Lely and Studio (1618-1680)
Portrait of a nobleman, traditionally identified as the Duke of Monmouth, holding a coronet in his left hand, leaning against a stone ledge, a landscape beyond
oil on canvas
92½ x 56 in. (235 x 142.2 cm.)
in a reed gadrooned carved and gilded George II frame festooned with beribonned drapery suspended from a bacchic lion mask wrapped by Roman acanthus

Provenance

The Dukes of Leeds, Hornby Castle, and by descent.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

This portrait is a late work by the artist. The pattern is derived from Lely's portrait of Henry Howard, 6th Duke of Norfolk, which is signed and dated 1677 (R.B. Beckett, Lely, London, 1951, p.55, no. 384). A portrait of Lord Cornwallis, of the same pattern, is at Audley End. The sitter in this portrait has traditionally been identified as the Duke of Monmouth but appears more likely to be another of King Charles II's illegitimate children.

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