Portrait of a Woman
- Artist: Peter Lely
- Date: (circa) 1645
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the *Portrait of a Woman* by Peter Lely. The canvas, finished around 1645, marks an early phase of Lely’s career in England. After leaving the Netherlands for London in 1641, he initially aimed at landscape and history subjects, but the city’s appetite for portraiture proved irresistible.
In this work, Lely renders an unnamed sitter in a relaxed, almost conversational pose. Her attire is strikingly theatrical—long, flowing garments that feel more like stage costumes than contemporary London fashion. This choice echoes the era’s pastoral trend in literature, music, and theatre, where rustic and idealized scenes were in vogue.
The artist’s brushwork shows confidence; the oil on canvas gives the flesh tones a subtle luminosity while the background remains intentionally vague, keeping focus on the figure. Lely’s use of light accentuates the sitter’s face and hands, creating a gentle intimacy. The informal presentation contrasts with the more formal portraits of the time, suggesting a shift toward capturing personality over strict adherence to fashion.
Overall, this portrait captures a moment where Lely’s skill in rendering character meets the cultural tastes of mid‑17th‑century London. The combination of theatrical dress, pastoral references, and Lely’s deft oil technique makes this painting a compelling snapshot of early English portraiture.
See it in person
Portrait of a Woman hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
