Sir Peter Lely 1618-1680

Three-quarter length, seated, wearing a gold dress

Anon. sale, Sotheby's, 15th April 1981, lot 287;
Anon. sale, Sotheby's 8th April 1998, lot 98, where acquired by the present owner

The canvas has been lined. The painting is ready to hang and is in no need of further attention. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals scattered retouchings throughout the composition. There are some retouchings to the sitter's face, flesh tones and dress. Held in a 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 sixth and youngest daughter of Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton and his second wife Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Legh, 1st Earl of Chichester. Her father was a loyal supporter of Charles I during the Civil War and served as Lord Treasurer under Charles II. On 23rd December 1662, at the age of sixteen, she married Jocelyn Percy, 11th Earl of Northumberland, son of the celebrated Lord High Admiral Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland. She accompanied her young husband to Italy in 1669 where he was taken ill. He died the next year in Turin at the early age of twenty-five, leaving only one child, a daughter, Elizabeth, who later married Henry Cavendiah, Earl of Ogle.

Following her husband's death, Elizabeth became a great heiress and is said to have had numerous suitors, all of whom she rejected in the hope that she would marry James, Duke of York. In Paris she met the Ambassador, Ralph Montagu, Lord Montagu of Boughton, who courted her enthusiastically to the annoyance of Madame de la Fayette. They were married privately  on 24th August 1673 at his house at Titchfield in Hampshire. Her husband was a leading figure in Charles II's Court, who served as ambassador in Paris with great splendour over a number of years. He was an active supporter of William III, who made him Earl of Montagu in 1689 and subsequently, in 1705, Duke of Montagu.

Elizabeth Wriothesley was an important patron of Lely to whom she sat a number of times. Portraits of her were included both in the Windsor Beauties at Hampton Court and the series of portraits of beauties which Cosimo  III, Grand Duke of Tuscany commissioned from Lely.