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Tate Britain
Until 15 Feb 2026
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Tate Modern
Until 12 Apr 2026
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Sir Peter Lely

1618–1680

Man Playing a Pipe c.1648
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In Tate Britain

Historic and Modern British Art

Biography

Sir Peter Lely (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 British subject and was knighted in 1679.

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Restoration Court Later Stuart 3 more art terms …

Artworks

Left Right

Girl with a Parrot

Sir Peter Lely
c.1670

Frans Mercurius van Helmont

Sir Peter Lely
1670–1

Two Ladies of the Lake Family

Sir Peter Lely
c.1660
On display at Tate Britain part of Historic and Modern British Art

Elizabeth, Countess of Kildare

Sir Peter Lely
c.1679

Susanna and the Elders

Sir Peter Lely
c.1650–5

Portrait of an Unknown Woman

Sir Peter Lely
c.1670–5

Boy Playing a Jew’s Harp

Sir Peter Lely
c.1648

Man Playing a Pipe

Sir Peter Lely
c.1648

Stories

Left Right
Essay

Boy Playing a Jew’s Harp c.1648 by Sir Peter Lely

Essay

Elizabeth, Countess of Kildare c.1679 by Sir Peter Lely

Rica Jones and Joyce H. Townsend

Essay

Frans Mercurius van Helmont 1670–1 by Peter Lely

Rica Jones and Joyce H. Townsend

Essay

Girl with a Parrot c.1670 by Peter Lely

Rica Jones and Joyce H. Townsend

Essay

Man Playing a Pipe c.1648 by Sir Peter Lely

Rica Jones and Joyce H. Townsend

Essay

Portrait of an Unknown Woman c.1670–5 by Peter Lely

Rica Jones and Joyce H. Townsend

Essay

Two Ladies of the Lake Family c.1660 by Sir Peter Lely

Rica Jones and Joyce H. Townsend

Essay

Susanna and the Elders c.1650–5 by Sir Peter Lely

Rica Jones and Joyce H. Townsend

Related art terms

Restoration Court Later Stuart Baroque Netherlands-trained, working in Britain Civil War and Commonwealth

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