Pieter van der Faes arrived in London around 1643, eventually adopting the surname Lely to establish his identity as the preeminent portraitist of the English court. He rose to become Principal Painter in Ordinary under Charles II, securing a position that defined the visual representation of the Restoration aristocracy for decades until his death in 1680.
Early Training and Migration
Born in 1618 in Soest, Westphalia, to parents from the Dutch Republic, Lely received his artistic education in Haarlem. In 1637, he attained the rank of master within the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke. His formative style integrated the influences of Dutch Baroque painting and the refined manner of Anthony van Dyck. Upon moving to London, he initially focused on mythological subjects and landscape-integrated portraiture.
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Following the death of van Dyck, Lely filled the vacuum in the London art market. He maintained his professional standing through shifting political climates, securing commissions from Charles I and later the Commonwealth government under Oliver Cromwell. In 1661, following the English Restoration, Charles II appointed him Principal Painter in Ordinary with an annual stipend of £200. He achieved status as a naturalised English subject in 1662 and received a knighthood in 1679.
Workshop Production and Studio Practice
To satisfy high demand, Lely operated a large, prolific workshop. He typically executed the sitter's head, while assistants completed the composition using a system of numbered poses and stock patterns for attire and background elements. This division of labor allowed for the output of an enormous volume of portraiture. Following his death, executors utilized his assistants to finish the various canvases left in his Covent Garden studio to settle his estate.
Artistic Legacy and Collection
Lely functioned as a significant collector of Old Masters, including works by Titian, Rubens, and Veronese. His estate sale after his death generated £26,000, underscoring his success. Beyond his painting career, he pioneered the adoption of the mezzotint technique in Britain, actively recruiting Dutch practitioners to disseminate his portrait designs. He died at his easel in 1680 while working on a portrait of the Duchess of Somerset.
Fast facts
- Born: 1618, Soest
- Died: 1680, London
- Primary Occupations: Painter, designer, draftsperson
- Appointed Principal Painter in Ordinary: 1661
- Notable Works include the Windsor Beauties and Flagmen of Lowestoft
- Burial Site: St Paul's Church, Covent Garden
- Art Movement: Baroque painting
Questions readers ask
How did Lely manage such a high volume of work?
He employed a large workshop where assistants completed portraits using standardized poses and pre-set background elements after Lely painted the primary sitter's head.
Did Lely only paint royalty?
No, while he served the royal court, he also painted Oliver Cromwell and members of the naval leadership, such as the admirals known as the Flagmen of Lowestoft.
Achievements
- Knight Bachelor
- Notable work: Peter Pett and the Sovereign of the Seas
- Notable work: Portrait of Charles I, with his second son, James, Duke of York
- Notable work: Portrait of George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, English Admiral and Statesman
- Movement: Baroque painting
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