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), presented in a feigned oval. After Sir Peter Lely (1618–1680), the painting reflects the stylistic elegance of Restoration portraiture, with soft modelling, rich drapery, and a composed gaze. The sitter’s noble lineage and courtly bearing are captured in a work that blends aristocratic symbolism with painterly grace.

Date: Circa 1670–1680

Origin: England

School: English School, after Sir Peter Lely

Medium: Oil on canvas

Subject: Eleanora Lee, Lady Norreys, later Countess of Abingdon

Condition: Good; age-related wear; structurally sound. Cleaned and relined historically. The gesso frame has been overpainted with gold paint. There is some evidence of minor retouching when observed under UV.

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,

Dimensions: 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")

A distinguished portrait from the Restoration period, ideal for collectors of English aristocratic art, 17th-century portraiture, and works after Lely. Its historical resonance and visual refinement make it a centrepiece for scholarly or decorative display.