Louise Renée de Penencoët de Kéroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth (1649 – 1734)
after Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1670 - 1699
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1270 x 1016 mm (50 x 40 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Tatton Park, Cheshire
NT 1298251
Caption
Louise was the most celebrated, rapacious mistress of King Charles II, who created her Duchess of Portsmouth and sworn Lady of the Bedchamber to his Queen in 1673. Her career began as maid of honour (by 1669) to the King's sister, Minette (Henriette-Anne, duchesse d'Orléans). Having already captivated the King, Louise returned to England from France after the sudden death of her mistress in June 1670, and was appointed maid of honour. She bore the king a son in 1672 and he was created Duke of Richmond & Lennox in 1675. The original painting from which this derives, and only known from an engraving, is lost.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Louise Renée de Penencoët de Kéroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth (1649 – 1734), after Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680). A three-quarter length portrait of a woman in a blue cloak, pillar and with curtain background. The prime version of this is a lost picture, known only from an engraving in reverse by Edward Le Davis, in which the sitter holds a stem of lilies on her knee, and there is a relief of three putti - two standing, one sitting, with the elbow of one of the standing ones on the head of the seated one.
Provenance
Bequeathed by Maurice Egerton, 4th Baron Egerton of Tatton (1874 - 1958) to the National Trust with the house, gardens and contents of Tatton Park
Credit line
Tatton Park, The Egerton Collection (National Trust)
Makers and roles
after Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680), artist