Peter Lely's universeSilky fabrics, sovereign poses and sensual elegance make Peter Lely the great portraitist of the English Restoration.
1618 - 1680Life and career
Soest, Haarlem, London, Interregnum and court of Charles IIMain homes
English Baroque, court portrait, oil on canvas, drawing, mythology, landscape, large workshop, art collection and royal commissionPractical
°2,500Portraits, history paintings, landscapes, drawings, studies of heads and hands, workshop versions, commissions and works created, overall estimate
Hand paintedReal oil painting, no print.
Formats of your choiceA composition adapted to the dimensions ordered.
Photo validationExamine your board before shipping.
Possible alterationsRequest adjustments before sending.
1618 -1680 · Haarlem, London and court of Charles II
Silky fabrics, sovereign poses and sensual elegance make Peter Lely the great portraitist of the English Restoration.
Pieter van der Faes, known as Peter Lely, was born in 1618 in Soest, Westphalia, into a Dutch family, and died in London in 1680. Trained in Haarlem, probably in Pieter de Grebber's entourage, he arrived in England in the early 1640s. His first ambitions concerned history painting, mythology and landscape, but portraiture quickly took hold. Lely worked during the Civil War and the Interregnum, then became Principal Painter to King Charles II at the Restoration. His studio responded to an immense demand: sovereigns, courtiers, officers and great ladies wanted an image that combined resemblance, rank and seduction. The painter established the head and hands, while assistants can develop costumes, draperies and rehearsals. Charles II of England unites royal presence and aristocratic casualness. The portraits of Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland and favorite of the king, display satin fabrics, luminous skin tones and supple hair. The probable Richard Boyle, Earl of Burlington, offers a more restrained version of this worldly authority. The probable Richard Boyle, Earl of Burlington, offers a more restrained version of this worldly authority. A passionate collector of paintings and drawings, Lely brought together a renowned firm. He is naturalized English, knighted in the year of his death and remains the artist who fixed the official and intimate image of the Restoration court. The "Peter Lely" selection puts particularly in relation to Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland and Portrait of a Man, probably Richard Boyle. His reading favors space.
Lely gives the resemblance the rhythm of the court: the look affirms the rank, the drapery stages the body and the light transforms the fabric into prestige.
Course & style
Journey, subjects and pictorial language
Soest, Haarlem and Dutch training
Drawing, history and portrait prepare an ambitious painter before his lasting installation in England. This milestone sheds light on the "Peter Lely" collection by prioritizing space.
London, Civil War and Interregnum
Lely adapts his art to changing sponsors and gradually imposes his portrait formula.
Restoration, Charles II and large workshop
Royal office, aristocratic clientele and numerous assistants capture the elegant image of an era.
01
Sovereign pose
Shoulder turned, confident gaze and flexible gesture give the model authority without stiffness. This line guides a space-centered reading of "Peter Lely".
02
Sensual fabric
Satin, velvet and drapery capture light and visually prolong body movement.
03
Bright complexion
Face, throat and hands emerge from darker tones with carefully modeled softness.
04
Workshop formula
Autograph studies and organized collaboration make it possible to respond to a considerable clientele.
Explore by universe
Six readings specific to Peter Lely
Works, visual language and historical landmarks make up a journey exclusively devoted to Peter Lely.
Court of Charles II01
Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland
Gaze, complexion and satin drapery build a presence that is at once political, worldly and sensual.
Landmark work by Peter Lely. Reading "Peter Lely" through space.Aristocratic authority02
Portrait of a man, probably Richard Boyle
The restraint of the pose and the precision of the gaze express the rank without resorting to excessive decoration.
Landmark work by Peter LelyRoyal portrait03
Charles II of England
The sovereign appears with relaxed confidence which becomes the visual signature of the Restoration.
Landmark work by Peter LelyCourt beauty04
Portrait of Barbara Villiers
Hair, skin and fabrics respond to each other in an effigy designed to seduce as much as represent.
Landmark work by Peter LelyStyle05
Sovereign pose
Shoulder turned, confident gaze and flexible gesture give the model authority without stiffness. This line guides a space-centered reading of "Peter Lely".
Reading key for Peter LelyStyle06
Sensual fabric
Satin, velvet and drapery capture light and visually prolong body movement.
Reading key for Peter Lely
Works to discover
Works by Peter Lely
Each card refers directly to its reproduction available on Shopify.
Each painting is made in oil on canvas by a specialized artist, then checked with you before shipping.
From the work to your interior
1
Choice of workSubject, orientation and dimensions adapted to your wall.
2
Oil paintingManual production, layer after layer.
3
Photo validationYou examine the finished table.
4
RetouchingAdjustments remain possible before sending.
Each reproduction is unique. Slight variations of touch and material testify to the painter's manual work.
Choose wisely
Hang a work by Peter Lely
Peter Lely's subjects and tones call for a format, place and framing chosen for the precise work.
Frequently asked questions
Before choosing your Peter Lely
Are reproductions painted with oil paint?
Yes. Each reproduction is hand painted in oil on canvas, without printing.
How to restore space in a reproduction by Peter Lely?
The painter uses the composition, values, colors and materials visible in the chosen work from the Peter Lely collection, with particular attention paid to space.
Can I order a work by Peter Lely in a custom format?
Yes. The dimensions are adapted respecting the proportions and balance of the selected work.
How do I validate my reproduction of Peter Lely?
Detailed photographs are sent before shipping; you can request edits before sending.
01Une œuvre préciseNom, artiste ou référence de musée02Votre propre imagePhoto, portrait ou composition personnelle03Un format spécialDimensions adaptées à votre intérieur
Buying guide
Your reproduction, step by step
From your choice to delivery, you stay in control thanks to photo validation and included retouching.
1
Choose the work and format
Select the painting and the dimensions suitable for your interior.
2
The artist paints your canvas
Your reproduction is made by hand, in painting at oil on canvas.
3
You validate the result
You receive a photo and can request up to 7 sets of edits.
4
The canvas is shipped with tracking
After validation, it is protected, rolled and sent with FedEx tracking.
Simple answers on the painting by hand, formats, alterations and delivery of your reproduction.
Frequently asked questions
The essential points before choosing your reproduction.
Are the reproductions hand painted?
Yes. Every reproduction is made by hand in painting at theoil on canvas by an experienced artist. This is neither a print nor a printed canvas.
Can I request touch-ups?
Yes. Before shipping, we send you a detailed photo of the canvas. Up to 7 sets of edits are included to adjust the rendering before your validation.
How long does it take to receive the canvas?
The estimated date is displayed near the buy button. It includes the time of painting, your photo validation then FedEx tracked delivery.
Can I order a custom size?
Yes, you can choose a standard format or ask us for a custom size to suit your space.
Are the tables delivered framed?
Depending on the options available, the canvas can be delivered alone, mounted on a frame or prepared for framing. Details are shown on the product page.
Can I send my own image?
Yes. You can send us an image, museum reference, name of a work or photo to request one reproduction personalized.
Collection guide Peter Lely
Some useful guidelines for choosing a work, its format and the location that will best highlight it.
Why choose a reproduction from this collection?
This selection brings together works designed for art lovers who want to rediscover the spirit of one painting famous in a hand painted canvas. Each reproduction can be adapted to the desired format and validated in photos before shipment.
A canvas prepared for your interior
The available formats allow the work to be adapted to a more specific living room, bedroom, office or decorative project. There painting is carried out at theoil on canvas with particular attention to colors, textures and general balance.
Custom edits and requests
If you are looking for a similar work, a similar artist or a specific format, you can ask for advice. Reproductions can be adjusted before sending using photo validation.
