Portrait of Elizabeth Wriothesley, Countess of Northumberland

Britain’s King Charles II was restored to the monarchy in 1660 after a decade of instability under the rule of Oliver Cromwell. The restoration of the crown brought celebration and an embrace of aristocratic power. During his exile in France, Charles II came to appreciate refinement and fashion and he encouraged a new era of opulence in his court, inviting female courtiers in larger numbers than in his father’s reign. Elizabeth Wriothesley was one such figure in the Restoration court, and Peter Lely painted her several times, including this seated composition, which was reproduced as a mezzotint engraving. The small scale of this painting indicates that it is likely a secondary version of this portrait. Gift of Mrs. Dora Koch