After Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680) - 17th Century English School Antique Oil On Canvas Portrait of Eleanora Lee, Lady Norreys, Later The Countess of Abingdon (1658-1691)

A half-length English school oil on canvas portrait of Eleanora Lee, Lady Norreys, later The Countess of Abingdon (1658-1691), in a feigned oval, after Sir Peter Lely.

The portrait bears an old label verso inscribed 'ELEANORA LEE / Countess of Abingdon / 1655-1691 / Attributed to Lely'.

Presented in a period gilt gesso frame.

About The Artist:

Sir Peter Lely (14 September 1618 – 7 December 1680) was a painter of Dutch origin whose career was nearly all spent in England, where he became the dominant portrait painter to the court. He became a naturalised British subject and was knighted in 1679.

Provenance: Private Collection, UK. Note: A larger full-length version attributed to Lely's Studio was once in the Collection of the Earl of Abingdon (1836-1928) and is reproduced in R. B. Beckett, 'English Master Painters: Lely', London 1951, pp.24-25, and under I. Portraits, no.2 plate 122. The same painting was offered at Sotheby's, London, 29 April 2014, lot 143. Eleanora Lee was the daughter of Sir Henry Lee, 3rd Baronet and Ann Danvers. She married James Bertie, 1st Earl of Abingdon, son of Montagu Bertie, 2nd Earl of Lindsey, and Bridget Wray, Baroness Norris, on 1 February 1671/72 at Adderbury, Oxfordshire,

Condition: Cleaned and relined historically. The gesso frame has been overpainted with gold paint. The picture displays will. A further condition report is available upon request.

Size: Including frame H 85 cm (33.5") x W 73.5 cm (28.9") / Excluding frame H 64.9 cm (25.6") x 54.9 cm (21.7")