Peter Lely, the son of a Dutch military officer, was born in Germany at Soest in Westphalia in 1618. Though his family name was van der Faes, he assumed the name Lely after the lily that was carved on the gable of his father’s home in The Hague. He studied in Haarlem before moving to London in 1641 and in 1647 he became a freeman of the Painter-Stainers’ Company. Initially, Lely painted a variety of subject matter including landscape, religious, and mythological scenes, however, he quickly recognized the strength of the English market for portraiture. By working for many of the patrons of the late Van Dyck, Lely rapidly established himself as one of the country’s most important portrait painters, including Charles I as patron.

After his restoration to the throne by Parliament in 1660, Charles II proceeded to create and preside over one of the most cosmopolitan and extravagant courts in British history. As ‘Principal Painter’ to the King, Lely painted the most elite and influential members of the court.