Called Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine and Duchess of Cleveland (1640-1709)

style of Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680). Oil painting on canvas. Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine and Duchess of Cleveland (1640-1709) in the style of Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680). A three-quarter-length portrait of a young woman, seated, turned slightly to the left, head inclined to the right, gazing at the spectator, her cheek resting on her left hand and her right hand which is on her lap is holding a bunch of forget-me-nots which she is feeding to a lamb on the right. She wears a white decollete chemise under a grey gown which has fallen down on her lap and she is seated beheath a large tree and a distant tree-filled landscape with sky can be seen on the left. She was Charles II's mistress and she had five children by him: Ann Fitzroy, Charles Fitzroy, Henry Fitzroy, Charlotte Fitzroy and George Fitzroy. The drapery matches SUD/P/62 in every particular way save colour. Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire