Who painted Study for a Portrait of a Woman?

Study for a Portrait of a Woman was painted by Peter Lely in 1670-01-01.

Where can I see Study for a Portrait of a Woman?

Study for a Portrait of a Woman is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Study for a Portrait of a Woman?

Study for a Portrait of a Woman is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Study for a Portrait of a Woman?

Museum-quality prints of Study for a Portrait of a Woman are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Study for a Portrait of a Woman

Peter Lely , 1670

Study for a Portrait of a Woman 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

As a portrait, the primary subject is the female figure herself, presented without specific historical or mythological identification in the available records.

The work depicts an unidentified woman, serving as a portrait study created by Peter Lely around 1670. As a portrait, the primary subject is the female figure herself, presented without specific historical or mythological identification in the available records. The painting functions as a study, suggesting an exploration of the sitter's likeness or the artist's technique rather than a finalized, narrative-driven composition with explicit symbolic allegories.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's description confirms the subject is simply a woman, with no additional iconographic elements or deeper symbolic meanings attributed to the piece in the provided documentation. The focus remains on the representation of the individual, consistent with Lely's genre of portraiture during that period.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1670, this work is an oil painting on canvas support. The piece measures 67.3 cm in height by 53.7 cm in width. As a portrait study by Sir Peter Lely, the composition depicts an unidentified female subject.

The application of oil paint on canvas reflects the standard materials and handling techniques employed by the artist for portraiture during this period. While specific details regarding the current physical condition or the precise brushwork handling are not explicitly detailed in the available records, the work is classified formally as a painting within the portrait genre, characterized by its focus on a single female figure.

History & Provenance

Created in 1670, this oil painting on canvas is attributed to Sir Peter Lely (Pieter van der Faes). The work, titled Study for a Portrait of a Woman, depicts an unidentified female subject. While the specific circumstances of its commission and the detailed chain of ownership prior to its current location are not enumerated in the available records, the piece is established as part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The inception date is firmly recorded as 1670, placing the work within the artist's mature period. The physical dimensions of the canvas are documented as 67.3 cm in height and 53.7 cm in width. No further historical details regarding previous private collectors or exhibition history are provided in the source material.

The work is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, accessioned as 67.31. Study for a Portrait of a Woman is catalogued in the museum’s holdings under Peter Lely’s oeuvre and is recorded with dimensions of 67.3 cm in height and 53.7 cm in width. The painting has not been recorded in major traveling exhibitions in accessible records.

Overview

Created in 1670 by Sir Peter Lely, Study for a Portrait of a Woman is an oil painting housed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Lely, a Dutch-born artist who established his career primarily in England, executed this work, which depicts an unnamed female sitter. This piece offers insight into the preparatory stages of portraiture by a prominent artist of the late 17th century.

Context

Sir Peter Lely was a dominant figure in English portraiture during the latter half of the 17th century. He became the foremost painter to the English court, a position that solidified his reputation and influence. His contributions to the genre were recognized with a knighthood in 1680, underscoring his significant standing within the artistic landscape of the era.

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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.