Sir Peter Lely 1618-1680

Three-quarter length, standing in a landscape, wearing a gold cloak

By descent from the sitter to his daughter Elizabeth, wife of Philip Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Chesterfield;
Thence by descent until sold in the Bretby Heirlooms sale, 31st May 1918, lot 42, bt. Amor for £378.

The painting would appear to be in very good condition and is ready to hang. The canvas has been lined. There are no apparent tears or damages and the work would apper to be in good structural condition. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals a thick varnish which obscures a clear reading. It is not possible to read any retouchings through the varnish. Held in an ornate carved wood frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The sitter was the only son of Robert Dormer, 1st Earl of Carnarvon and his wife Anna Sophia, eldest daughter of Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke. His father was a gallant Royalist who was killed in 1643 at the battle of Newbury, and so he inherited his title at the age of only eleven. In 1653 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Arthur, 1st Baron Capell. Following her death in 1678 he married Lady Mary Bertie, daughter of Montague Bertie, 2nd Earl of Lindsey.

This fine portrait dates from circa 1659 and shows the strong influence of van Dyck. Carnarvon's family had strong credentials as patrons of both van Dyck and Lely. His grandfather, the 4th Earl of Pembroke, was one of van Dyck's greatest patrons in England. His father-in-law, Arthur Lord Capell, later Earl of Essex, was painted by Lely in 1647, and several double portraits of the family date from the 1650s. Carnarvon himself was painted when a boy in c.1647 (Sotheby's sale, 7th June 2006, lot 118) and as part of a large family group. The present portrait relates closely to a three-quarter length portrait of the sitter seated by a pillar (see R. B. Beckett, Lely, 1951, plate 65).

Carnarvon died without surviving male issue and his estate passed to his daughters, Elizabeth, who married Philip Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Chesterfield, and Isabella, who married Charles Coote, 3rd Earl of Mountrath. The present portrait descended through the Chesterfield family and would have hung first at the chief seat of the Stanhope family, Bretby Park in Derbyshire and at the Chesterfield House in London, built in the mid eighteenth century for the 4th Earl of Chesterfield. The elaborate frame was probably added when it was hung at Chesterfield House.