Who painted Portrait of a Woman?

Portrait of a Woman was painted by Peter Lely in 1649.

Where can I see Portrait of a Woman?

Portrait of a Woman is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Portrait of a Woman?

Portrait of a Woman is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Artwork

Portrait of a Woman

Peter Lely , 1649

Portrait of a Woman is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Peter Lely. It dates from 1649 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. Created in 1649, this oil portrait presents a woman in elaborate attire, rendered in the Flemish Baroque idiom.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1649, this oil portrait presents a woman in elaborate attire, rendered in the Flemish Baroque idiom. The composition isolates the sitter against an unadorned backdrop, directing attention to her poised gesture and the subtle modeling of her features. The work belongs to the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.

Subject & Meaning

The figure is shown holding a delicate strip of paper or lace, her other hand resting lightly on her chest, suggesting modesty or contemplation. Her hair is swept back, and a high, bow‑tied collar frames her face, indicating contemporary fashion and possibly her social standing within the mid‑seventeenth‑century English court.

Technique & Style

Lely employs soft gradations of light and shadow to give the face a smooth, three‑dimensional quality, while the sheen of the fabric is captured through careful highlights. The restrained chiaroscuro and meticulous attention to texture reflect the Flemish Baroque influence that shaped his portraiture.

History & Provenance

The painting was executed by Sir Peter Lely, a Dutch‑born artist who established his career in England and became the court’s foremost portraitist. Naturalised as an English subject, Lely was knighted by Charles II in 1680, and his works were in high demand during the mid‑1600s. The canvas later entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings, where it remains on view.

Artist & collection

Artist

Peter Lely

Sir Peter Lely (Dutch: ; 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.