Sir Peter Lely

By descent from the sitter.

STRUCTURE The canvas has an old lining. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be very good condition, There is some scattered surface dirt overall consistent with the paintings age, and there is no apparent damage or loss of paint except for a small horizontal abrasion in the lower right hand corner, measuring approximately 1 in. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals scattered minor retouching to the background and to the crown of the sitter's head. There is also some apparent strengthening to the costume, mainly to areas of shadow in the folds. FRAME Held in an elaborately carved and gilded architectural frame To speak to a specialist about this lot please contact Julian Gascoigne on +44 (0)207 293 5482, or at julian.gascoigne@sothebys.com, or Emmeline Hallmark on 44 (0)207 293 5407, or at emmeline.hallmark@sothebys.com.
"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 daughter of Henry Seymour, Lord Beauchamp (1626-1654), and his wife, Mary Capel, sister of the Earl of Essex (later Duchess of Beaufort). She was the granddaughter of William Seymour, 2^nd Duke of Somerset (1588-1660) and the sister of William, 3^rd Duke of Somerset (1654-1671). This first early portrait painted by Lely around 1660 predates her marriage to Thomas Bruce, 2^nd Earl of Ailesbury in 1676. She died just twenty years later, but not before she had inherited the great Tottenham estates at Savernake from her brother, who died unmarried in 1671, thus bringing the estate into the Bruce family, in whose hands it has remained until the present day.