LELY, wit Sat Dutch painter: b. Soest, Westphalia, 1618; d. London, 30 Nov. 1680. His real name was Pieter van der Fees, but he assumed as his artistic title a nickname, Lely, or rather Le lys, which had been borne by his father. He was the pupil of Peter Greb ber in his early manhood, but went to England in his 23d year and began his career as a por trait painter. His pictures were much admired and Charles I appointed him court painter. He painted the portrait of that sovereign and also of Cromwell, but he reached his greatest emi nence after the Restoration. He was an imita tor of Van Dyck, whom he almost equaled in the excellence of some of his earlier work. But as he fell in with the artificiality of Charles II's licentious court his manner lost much of its dignity and originality, and with a fatal facility he assumed that mannerism which detracts so much from the artistic worth of his portraits. His coloring as well as his drawing became weak and conventional. He was, how
ever, a great favorite with the king and his famous 'Beauties of Hampton Court' was painted at the request of his royal master, these being the loveliest women of the court, including the Duchess of Cleveland. His series of 12 painted for the Duke of York, is also well known. He is best represented at Hampton Court, National Por trait Gallery, London, at Greenwich and Wind sor, and there are also two interesting por traits by him, one of Sir William Temple and one of Nell Gwynne at the Metropolitan Museum. Consult Baker, C. H. C., and the Stuart Painters' (2 vols., London 1912). Lely founded the school of English portrait, and up to the time of Reynolds and Lawrence was its ablest representative. His method of handling, as well as his conception of the por trait, were long imitated, and even to-day have their influence.