17thc Oil Portraits James II & Anne Hyde Duke & Duchess Of York Royal Cromwellian Paintings Circa 1656-59

Description

RARE PAIR OF CROMWELLIAN PERIOD OIL PORTRAITS ON CANVAS [CANNOT SPLIT]
Still together after over 360 years
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( CIRCLE OF ARTIST ) SIR PETER LELY ( 14 Sept.1618 – 7 Dec.1680 )
Lely was born Pieter van der Faes to Dutch parents in Soest in Westphalia, where his father was an officer serving in the armed forces of the Elector of Brandenburg. Lely 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.
Lely's portraits were well received and he became most fashionable portrait artist in England.
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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.
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He arrived in London in around 1643 and became a freeman of the Painter-Stainers' Company in 1647 and was portrait artist to Charles I. His talent ensured that his career was not interrupted by Charles's execution, and he served Oliver Cromwell, whom he painted."warts and all", and Richard Cromwell.
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After the English Restoration in 1660, Lely was appointed as Charles II's Principal Painter in Ordinary in 1661, with a stipend of £200 per year.
Demand was high, and Lely and his large workshop were prolific.
After Lely painted a sitter's head, Lely's pupils would often complete the portrait in one of a series of numbered poses.
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SITTER:
JAMES II 1633-1701 When Younger [ Duke Of York ]
Exiled in Europe 1648 / Married 1st Wife 1660
Later Crowned King James II 1685.
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JAMES II & VII (14 Oct.1633-16 Sept.1701 )
Born during the English civil war, and was captured by forces opposed to the monarchy and held at St.James Palace.
James escaped in 1648 to continental Europe where he distinguished himself as a soldier.
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Cromwell defeated his brother Charles II at the Battle of Worcester on 3 September 1651, and Charles also fled to mainland Europe.
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Cromwell then died in 1658 which resulted in the restoration of the monarchy and Charles II was invited to return in 1660 to be King.
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Once James elder brother Charles II was restored to the throne, he also returned to England and was appointed commander of the Royal Navy.
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Charles II reined until his death on 6th Feb 1685, where upon his younger brother James became King of England and Ireland as James II, and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685.
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King James II reined until he was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
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He was the last Catholic monarch of England, Scotland and Ireland his reign remembered struggles over religious tolerance.
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However, it also involved the principles of absolutism and divine right of kings, and his deposition ended a century of political and civil strife by confirming the primacy of Parliament over the Crown.
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MATCHING PORTRAIT.
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SITTER:
ANNE HYDE 1637-1671
Later Duchess Of York / Met James 1656 / Married 1660
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Anne Hyde was the eldest daughter Edward Hyde, a lawyer and M.P. and Frances Aylesbury, daughter of Sir Thomas Aylesbury, she was born at Cranbourne Lodge in Windsor Great Park. In 1649, the family fled to the Netherlands following the execution of King Charles I by Parliament. The family settled in Breda, where they were offered a home by Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange.
When Anne was fifteen the Princess of Orange appointed her as her maid of honour, Anne became popular at the Dutch court of The Hague, she was pretty and stylish, and attracted many men. Spencer Compton, a son of the Earl of Northampton was interested in her, however, Anne quickly fell in love with Henry Jermyn, who reciprocated her feelings. In 1656 she accompanied Mary to her exiled brother Charles II's court in Paris, where she met James, Duke of York, ( the future James II), the second son of the deposed king.
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FRAMED SIZE :34 x 31 Inches
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DELIVERY
UK £100 / EUR £200 / USA £400
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TEL: 07547 617528
Payments Accepted By Bank Transfer & Debit / Credit Cards
PAY-PAL Or CHEQUES Drawn From Uk Accounts
Internal Ref: CLC/055

Dimensions

Height = 86.5 cm (34")
Width = 79 cm (31")
Depth = 4 cm (2")