Artwork
Mary Capel (1630–1715), Later Duchess of Beaufort, and Her Sister Elizabeth (1633–1678), Countess of Carnarvon
Mary Capel (1630–1715), Later Duchess of Beaufort, and Her Sister Elizabeth (1633–1678), Countess of Carnarvon is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Peter Lely. It dates from 1670 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting is a formal double portrait of Mary Capel, later Duchess of Beaufort, alongside her sister Elizabeth Capel, Countess of Carnarvon.
The painting is a formal double portrait of Mary Capel, later Duchess of Beaufort, alongside her sister Elizabeth Capel, Countess of Carnarvon. Created in 1670 by Sir Peter Lely, the work identifies the two women as its principal subjects. While the specific iconography or allegorical symbolism within the composition is not detailed in the available records, the piece serves to represent the identities and aristocratic status of the two sisters, capturing both within a single frame and establishing their visual legacy through Lely's characteristic style.
Technique & Style
Created in 1670 by Sir Peter Lely, this portrait is executed in oil on a canvas support. The work measures 130.2 cm in height and 170.2 cm in width, presenting the two sitters within a substantial double-portrait format. As a product of Lely's mature period, the painting renders the figures with a sense of aristocratic presence, the oil medium facilitating the soft modeling of facial features and the detailed articulation of their attire.
It remains classified as a formal portrait, depicting the subjects in the dignified poses typical of the era's courtly portraiture.
History & Provenance
The double portrait was painted by Sir Peter Lely in 1670, depicting Mary Capel (later Duchess of Beaufort) and her sister Elizabeth Capel (later Countess of Carnarvon) in aristocratic attire. The work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is held, with dimensions recorded as 130.2 cm by 170.2 cm. While the specific accession number is not provided in the available records, the work is catalogued as a portrait by Lely; the sources do not document a specific commission, inventory number, or exhibition history.
Overview
This oil painting captures a double portrait of two sisters: Mary Capel, who would later become the Duchess of Beaufort, and Elizabeth Capel, the Countess of Carnarvon. The work provides a visual record of their appearance and social standing during the mid-17th century, a common practice among the English aristocracy of the period. The composition presents both women seated, distinguished by their attire and personal accessories.
Context
This portrait exemplifies the prevailing artistic conventions in English painting during the mid-17th century. Artists such as Peter Lely, a prominent portraitist of the era, frequently received commissions from the aristocracy to capture their likenesses and convey their social standing. Such works were integral to the visual culture of the time, serving both as personal mementos and public declarations of status within society.
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Artist & collection
Artist
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.
