Portrait of a Lady

Sir Peter Lely (attributed to) 1618 - 1680

Summary

A reproduction produced by the Vasari Society of a drawing attributed to Sir Peter Lely. The drawing shows the bust of a young woman, facing the viewer and wearing a sullen expression. The woman has curly hair tied back with a few curls falling over her right shoulder. She is wearing a dress with a round neck and has another piece of clothing draped over her left shoulder. The original drawing was done in black chalk with white highlights and touches of red. Text from the accompanying booklet produced by the Vasari Society: "No. 32 ATTRIBUTED TO SIR PETER LELY (b. 1618, d. 1680) PORTRAIT OF A LADY British Museum, 1906-7-19-2. Black chalk on brownish paper, heightened with white, and with red chalk on lips and eyelids. 29.5 x 19 cm. (11 5/8 x 7 1/2 in.) This attractive portrait, obviously very near to Lely, is yet unlike him in the manner of handling the chalk, the strokes having a certain hardness and shortness. The chalk used is a French chalk, somewhat blacker and harsher than the grey Italian chalk which Lely commonly preferred. The study is probably by one of Sir Peter's immediate following, but it is impossible as yet to identify the hand with certainty. L. B."