Portrait of the Duke of Lauderdale

Sir Peter Lely (after) 1618 - 1680

Summary

A reproduction produced by the Vasari Society of a drawing by Sir Peter Lely. The drawing shows a head and shoulder portrait of a man facing towards the left with his head turned to look at the viewer. The man has long, white, curly hair and a thin curved moustache. He has heavy eyelids and looks at the viewer with a serious expression. The man is weaving a cravat around his neck. The original drawing was done using black chalk with white highlights. Text from the accompanying booklet produced by the Vasari Society: "No. 31 SIR PETER LELY (b. 1618, d. 1680) PORTRAIT OF THE DUKE OF LAUDERDALE British Museum, 1874-8-8-2263. From the Earl of Wicklow Collection. Black chalk on brownish paper, heightened with white. 18.1 x 16.8 cm. (7 1/8 x 6 5/8 in.) This portrait study shows Lely at his finest, and in a more masculine and intellectual phase than usual. The coarse features, the arrogant and brutal ability, the debauched cynicism of the famous member of the Cabal, are expressed with equal force and subtlety. Of about the same time as the well-known double portrait of the Duke and Duchess, engraved in mezzotint by R. Williams. In that picture (at Ham House) the Duke is seen in full-face. L. B."