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Sir Peter Lely (1618-80)

Frances Brooke, Lady Whitmore (d. 1690) c. 1665

Oil on canvas | 124.4 x 101.3 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external) | RCIN 404959

Communication Gallery, Hampton Court Palace

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  • This picture forms one of the ‘Windsor Beauties’ series, a set of eleven portraits of celebrated women at the Restoration court. The series was apparently commissioned or at least assembled by Anne Hyde, Duchess of York, probably around 1662-5. Pepys recorded on 21 August 1668 that he ‘did first see the Duke of York’s room of pictures of some Maids of Honour, done by Lilly: good, but not like.’ By describing the pictures as ‘not like’ Pepys is alluding to the often noted opinion that Lely flattered his subjects, and gave each portrait a similar languorous and ‘sleepy eyed’ air, said to have been influenced by the features of the noted court beauty Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland (RCIN 404957) who was painted many times by Lely. Contrary to Pepys’s assertion, only one of the sitters, Frances Teresa Stuart (RCIN 404514) actually held the position of Maid of Honour in the Royal Household. Some of the others were noted courtesans, while others were respected members of the nobility. In 1674, after the death of Anne Hyde, the pictures were hanging as a group in the White Room at Whitehall which was reported as being 'Hunge wth white sarsanett [sarcenet - a soft fabric, usually of silk], and over it blew Mohair with silk fringe'. Eleven pictures are mentioned in this inventory, although ten today are identified today as belonging to the group. The series was taken from Whitehall to Windsor, presumably by James II and hung in the Princess’s Dressing Room. In the reign of Queen Anne they were hung in the Queen’s Waiting Room and later in the Queen’s State Bedchamber. They were at Hampton Court by June 1835. All appear to be wholly by Lely’s own hand except Anne Digby, Countess of Sunderland (RCIN 404515) which is probably a studio copy. Frances Brooke was the daughter of Sir William Brooke. By 1665 she had married Sir Thomas Whitmore. Her sister was Margaret Brooke, Lady Denham, mistress to the Duke of York, who was also painted by Lely for the series (RCIN 401212).
    Provenance

    Probably commissioned by Anne Hyde, Duchess of York

  • Medium and techniques

    Oil on canvas

    Measurements

    124.4 x 101.3 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external)

    143.2 x 120.4 x 8.0 cm (frame, external)

  • Alternative title(s)

    The Countess of Southesk, previously identified as

    Margaret Brooke, Lady Denham (ca. 1647-1667), previously identified as


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