Peter Lely
1618–1680

Selected artwork
Portrait of Mrs. Leneve
c. 1657
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Other names (90)
disciple d'A. Van Dyck Leli, eigentlich p. van der faes sir peter lely, gen. Leli Peter v. d. Faes, J. P. Lely, Le Chevalier Leli, Le Chevalier Lelly, Leley, leli, Lelie dit le petit Vandick, Lelly, Lely, lely school, lely sir p., Lely Sir peter, Lilley, Lilli, Lilly, Lyley, Lylly, Peter Leely, Peter Lelie, Peter Lilley, Peter Lilly, Peter (Sir) Lely, Peters Léli, Peter Van Der Faes Lelio, Peter Van Der Faes Lely, Peter Van Der Faes Lilley, Peter Van Der Faes Lilly, Peter Van Der Faes Lylly, peter v. d. faes gen. lely, Petrus Lely, Petter Lely, Pierre Leli, Pierre Lelly, Pierre Lely, pieter leley, Pieter Lely, Piètre Lely, P. Leely Sr, P. Léli, P. Lelly, P. Lely, P. Lilij, P. Lilli, P. Lilly, Sir Lelio, Sir Lely, Sir Lilley, Sir Lilly, Sir Lylly, Sir Peter, Sir Peter Leley, Sir Peter Lelly, Sir Peter Lely, Sir Peter Lilley, Sir Peter Lilli, Sir Peter Lilly, Sir Peter Lily, Sir Peter Lylly, Sir Peter van der Faes Lelio, Sir Peter van der Faes Lely, Sir Peter van der Faes Lilley, Sir Peter van der Faes Lilly, Sir Peter van der Faes Lylly, Sir Pet. Lely, Sir Pet. Lilly, sir pieter lely, Sir P. Leley, Sir P. Lelly, Sir P. Lely, Sir P. Lilly, Sir P. Lily, Sir P. Lylly, Sir P.P. Lely, Sir P. Silly, S. P. Lely, S. P. Lilly, Sr Peter Lely, Sr Peter Lilley, Sr Peter Lilly, S.r P. Lely, Sr. P. Lely, Sr P Lilly, [Sr P. Lily], St. Peter Lely, S.^Tr^R P. Lely, surnommé Léli Pierre Vander Faes, Van der Faes detto Pierre Lely, Vander Faes detto Pierre Lely
Biography
Sir Peter Lely (Dutch: [ˈliːlɪ]; 14 September 1618 – 30 November 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 English subject and was knighted in 1680 by King Charles II.
Lely was born Pieter van der Faes on 14 September 1618 to Dutch parents in Soest in Westphalia, where his father was an officer serving in the armed forces of the Elector of Brandenburg. He studied painting in Haarlem, where he may have been apprenticed to Pieter de Grebber. He became a master of the Guild of Saint Luke in Haarlem in 1637. He is reputed to have adopted the surname "Lely" (also occasionally spelled Lilly) from a heraldic lily on the gable of the house where his father was born in The Hague.
He arrived in London in around 1643, His early English paintings, mainly mythological or religious scenes, or portraits set in a pastoral landscape, show influences from Anthony van Dyck and the Dutch baroque.
Lely's portraits were well received, and he succeeded Anthony van Dyck (who had died in 1641) as the most fashionable portrait artist in England.
Wikipedia contributors. Opening excerpt, formatted for reading. CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision.
Influenced by
- Frans Pietersz de Grebbereditorial inference
Evidence
Wikidata assertion retained for review; its references, if supplied, have not been independently verified. Teaching is recorded separately and does not itself establish artistic influence.
Later influence
- Richard Gibsoneditorial inference
Evidence
Wikidata assertion retained for review; its references, if supplied, have not been independently verified.
- Nicolas de Largillièreeditorial inference
Evidence
Wikidata assertion retained for review; its references, if supplied, have not been independently verified.
- John Greenhilleditorial inference
Evidence
Wikidata assertion retained for review; its references, if supplied, have not been independently verified. Teaching is recorded separately and does not itself establish artistic influence.
Artworks by year
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Museums & collections
Documented holdings of works attributed to Peter Lely. Check the museum’s record for current display information.
- Tate8 recorded works
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art4 recorded works
- Minneapolis Institute of Art1 recorded work
- musée des Beaux-Arts — Nantes1 recorded work
- National Gallery of Art1 recorded work
- The Cleveland Museum of Art1 recorded work
- Walters Art Museum1 recorded work
Sources 9
- Wikidata (CC0)
- National Gallery of Art
- Museum authority country review
- Pantheon 2025 — Datawheel (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Museum authority country review
- Tate Collection metadata (October 2014 snapshot)
- Pantheon 2025 — Datawheel (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Expanded artwork research — official museum evidence
- Pantheon 2025 — Datawheel (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Art, literature & history