17th Century Portrait Paintings

Sir Godfrey Kneller 1646-1723, was a German born English portrait painter. He was a pupil of Bol and Rembrandt, he was born in Leiden, travelled to Rome , Venice, Hamburg and later t...

This fantastic Italian Baroque 17th century Old Master portrait oil painting is attributed to circle of Carlo Dolci. Painted circa 1685, the composition is a waist length portrait of...

A 17th century English portrait of a lady by Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680), half-length in a painted feigned oval, wearing a green silk gown with chestnut coloured cloak over one shoulder, her fair hair curled in the fashionable ringlet style of the period. Oil on canvas in an English giltwood 'Lely' frame. We are grateful to Diana Dethloff and Catharine MacLeod (who are currently working on a Lely catalogue raisonné) for their confirmation of Lely as the artist from photograph analysis of this previously unidentified early work. Provenance: Private collection Nottingham until 2021 Mellors and Kirk sale December 2000, lot 1173 The sitter is likely to have been from an upper class or aristocratic family in court circles, who were the main source of Lely`s patronage. The simple composition serves to highlight the beauty of the sitter through portraying her pale decolletage and complexion, set against the gentle gaze of her blue eyes, the soft blush of her cheeks and her full red lips. Peter Lely (1618-1680) was originally of dutch origin and became Principle Painter to the King in 1661, following in the footsteps of Van Dyck who had died in 1641. He dominated the portrait painting scene in England for over 20 years, creating a distinctive 'court look' in his work which had a strong influence on many other artists. He had an extremely successful and popular portrait practice which meant that he soon had to develop production methods that could accommodate the high demand for portraits, and also for copies and versions of them which were given as gifts to family and courtiers. The use of studio assistants was a common practice for busy artists and as with Van Dyck, Lely is known to have used specialist assistants to execute particular parts of his paintings. Artists who worked in Lely`s studio included John Baptist Gaspars who specialised in drapery painting, William Wissing, John Greenhill...

Oil work on canvas sold with frame. Total size with frame: 58x39x5 cm

The Holy Family 17th century Genoise School, unsigned as typical of the period follower of Luca CAMBIASO oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 29.5 x 22 inches inscribed verso Provenance: ...

Carlo Dolci (Florence 1616 - 1686) shop Mater Dolorosa, known as Our Lady of the Finger Oil on oval canvas, 29 x 23 cm. In frame 48 x 43 cm. The painting we present to you depicts ...

Giovanni Battista Beinaschi (Fossano, Italy, 1636 - Naples, Italy, 1688) Title: Saint Bartholomew Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: without frame 9...

Giovanni Bernardo Carbone (Genoa 1614 – Genoa 1683) - Portrait of a gentleman. 200 x 142 cm without frame, 212 x 154 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in wooden frame ...

Bolognese school of the seventeenth century Circle Giovanni Battista Ramenghi, known as Bagnacavallo (Bologna, 1521 - 1601) Oil painting on canvas (86 x 72 cm. - With antique frame ...

Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – 1680 London) Portrait of lady with a crown, possibly Bridget Drury Lady Shaw, formerly Viscountess Kilmorey, later Lady Baber (d.1696) c.1665 Oil on canvas 46 1/2 x 40 3/4 inches, Framed 42 1/4 x 36 1/4 inches, Unframed Inscribed left [……….]Isabella James Mulraine wrote the following for this piece: This portrait dates to the middle of the 1660s, the decade when Lely’s career took off as successor to Sir Anthony van Dyck. At the Restoration Charles II had appointed him Principal Painter to the King and paid a pension £200 per annum ‘as formerly to Sr. Vandyke...’1 Lely had trained in Haarlem and he was in his early twenties when he came to London in 1643. He was an astute businessman and a wise courtier. In 1650 he painted a portrait of Oliver Cromwell (Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery) while maintaining links with the Royalist exiles through the 1650s. He had arrived in England as a painter of small-scale portraits and lush scenes of nymphs in landscapes in a Dutch style. His experience of Van Dyck in English collections transformed his painting. His lavish and alluring vision of Arcadia exactly captured the spirit of the Court and as Principal Painter he dominated English portraiture for the next twenty years. Lely ran a highly efficient studio along Netherlandish lines, employing a team of specialists like the drapery painter John Baptist Gaspars and young artists-in-training like Nicolas de Largilliere. He had numerous rivals during that period, and by 1670 he had introduced numbered standard poses to speed up production, while collaborating with printmakers for further revenue and advertising. He died in 1680 of a stroke while painting, working to the last. The portrait, painted at a date when Lely’s poses and execution were still individual and inventive shows a lady sitting at three-quarter length facing away from the viewer. She has begun to turn towards the viewer, a pose with a long pedigree in art, first used by Leonardo da Vinci in the Mona Lisa (Louvre). She steadies her blue drapery where it might slip from her arm with the movement, a flash of realism beautifully captured. Like Van Dyck, Lely painted his female sitters in a timeless costume rather than contemporary fashion, showing a loose gown and floating silk draperies. It presented the sitter as a classical ideal. The portrait would not date. The saffron dress may be the work of a drapery painter but the brown scarf must be by Lely himself, and appears unfinished, broadly sketched in behind the shoulder. The delicate blue glaze and nervous highlights suggest shimmering translucence. Lely was a master of painting hands – his hand studies are marvels of drawing – and the lady’s hands are superb, exactly drawn, delicately modelled and expressive. The fidgety gestures, clutching the gown, fiddling with the edge of the scarf, give the portrait psychological bite, suggesting the personality behind the calm courtier’s expression, adding to the sense shown in the look of the eyes and mouth that the lady is about to speak. The portrait’s language is Vandykian. The inspiration comes directly from Van Dyck’s English portraits of women. Lely owned Van Dyck’s Portrait of Lady Elizabeth Thimbleby and Dorothy Viscountess Andover (National Gallery, London) and the sitter’s costume quotes Lady Andover’s saffron dress and brown scarf. But Lely paints a generation who sat nearer to the ground and through a dialogue of expression and gesture he shows sitters who are more flesh and blood than Van Dyck’s. The background with a column and curtain is different to those shown in most of Lely’s portraits of women. They tend to include trees or fountains, with a glimpse of landscape. But there are other examples. A portrait of the King’s reigning mistress, Barbara Villiers Duchess of Cleveland...

A rare pair of three-quarter length 'marriage' portraits by one of the foremost dutch portrait painters of the 17th century, Nicolaes Maes (Dordrecht 1634-1693 Amsterdam). The gentleman signed middle left 'Maes 1679'. Oil on canvas in dutch style ebonised frames. Dimensions 58 x 47.5cms each. The gentleman is shown in a landscape at dusk, leaning against a stone capital, wearing a white chemise decorated with lace, a black coat and a brown silk cloak draped across his body. The lady is elegantly dressed in an ivory silk gown decorated with jewels on the neckline and shoulders, the contrasting sleeves in gold fabric, with a rose pink silk cloak draped over her shoulder and bodice. She wears a pearl necklace and earrings with her fair hair worn up with ringlets falling down onto her chest in the fashionable style of the day. She stands with one hand touching a lock of her hair as she rests her arm on the bowl of a stone water drinking fountain...

This lovely 17th century Old Master religious oil painting is from the Italian School. The subject is Joseph in prison interpreting the dreams of Pharoah's Baker and Butler. The bars...

Tiziano Vecellio (Pieve di Cadore 1490 - Venice 1576) follower of Portrait of the emperor Julius Caesar (Rome 100 BC - 44 BC), inscribed above C. IVLIVS. CAESAR Portrait of the Emperor Octavian Augustus (Rome 63 BC - 14 BC), inscribed on top OCTAVIANUS II ROM IMP 17th century oil painting on canvas Measurements (cm.): 65 x 50, with frame 81 x 68 cm. The Latin writer Suetonius with his work 'De vita Caesarum' (and in particular with his tradition in the vernacular of 1543, edited by the Florentine scholar Paolo del Rosso) inspired Tiziano Vecellio who, in 1537, painted for Duke Frederick II of Gonzaga portraits of the eleven emperors, adorning the walls for a small room in the Palazzo Ducale in Mantua, later known as the Cabinet of the Caesars. These effigies were intended to establish the link between the new era and classicism with its splendor, as well as to celebrate the value and wisdom of the rulers, who perceived themselves, in their lordships, as valiant new emperors. Titian's paintings soon became enormously popular and many patrons and lords of the time, including Ferdinando d'Avalos, Marquis of Pescara and Governor of Milan or Vespasiano Gonzaga, turned to the workshop of the Cremonese Bernardino Campi...

Studio of Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680) Portrait of Lady Anne (1665–1714), later Queen Oil on canvas 20⅞ x 16¾ in. c.1678 Provenance Capt. H. A. N. Forte of Polock, West Somerset; Chri...

Barend GRAAT (Amsterdam 1628 – Amsterdam 1709) Diana the Huntress Oil on wood H. 33.5 cm ; L. 44 cm Signed lower right on the stone A discreet painter with respect to history, Baren...

Portrait Of Sir William Wallace (1270-1305), 17th century Italian School Large 17th Century Italian School portrait of Scottish Knight Sir William Wallace, oil on panel. Excellent ...

Flemish School, wooded landscape with castle and hilltop town by the river, early 17th century Oil on canvas, 75 × 95 cm This painting opens with a wide wooded landscape, built ...

This stunning French 17th century Old Master oil painting is by Baroque artist Laurent de la Hyre. It was painted circa 1645 and has excellent prove...

Portrait of a Lady Attributed to Nicolas Fouché (Troyes, 1653-Paris, 1733) Late 17th century French School, Paris, circa 1690-1695 not signed Oil on canvas: h. 99 cm, w. 79 cm Impo...

Aftrer Anthony VAN DYCK - maybe Studio (1599, Antwerp – 1641, London) Flemish Double Portrait of George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham (1628-1687) & Lord Francis Villiers (1629-1648) Oil on Canvas 170 x 147 cm Anthony Van Dyck (1599-1641) No painter has done more to define an era than Anthony van Dyck. He spent only seven and a half years of his short life (1599- 1641) in England. He grew up in Antwerp, where his precocious talent was recognised by Peter Paul Rubens, the greatest painter of his age. He worked in Rubens’s studio and imitated his style as a religious artist, painting biblical scenes redolent of the lush piety of the counter-reformation. But soon he was on the move. In 1620, he visited London for a few months, long enough to paint a history picture, The Continence of Scipio, for the royal favourite, George Villiers, Marquess of Buckingham, and a portrait of his other English patron, the great art collector, Thomas Howard, 2nd Earl of Arundel. After a stint in Italy, making imposing portraits of the wealthy aristocracy and sketching and copying works by Titian, he returned to the Spanish Netherlands in 1627, becoming court artist to Archduchess Isabella before departing for The Hague in 1631 to paint the Dutch ruler Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange. Charles I’s invitation in 1632 led Van Dyck back to London where he was knighted, paid an annual salary of £200 and installed in a house in Blackfriars with a special jetty at which the royal barge might tie up when the King was visiting his studio. By this time Van Dyck was recognised as the leading court painter in Europe, with Velazquez at the court of Philip IV of Spain his only rival. He also excelled as a superbly observant painter of children and dogs. Van Dyck’s notoriety in depicting children led to the introduction of groups of children without their parents as a new genre into English painting (amongst other new genres). For the next 300 years, Van Dyck was the major influence on English portraiture. Nearly all the great 18th Century portraitists, from Pompeo Batoni and Allan Ramsay to Thomas Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds, copied Van Dyck’s costumes, poses and compositions. George Duke of Buckingham & his brother Francis Villiers Painted in 1635, this double portrait was originally commissioned by Charles I, who raised the two brothers after their father, George Villiers, was assassinated in 1628. Together with their sister, Lady Mary Villiers, they enjoyed the King’s favour absolutely. Francis whose absolute ‘inimitable handsomeness’ was noted by Marvell (who was killed in a skirmish near Kingston upon Thames). The young duke who commanded a regiment of horse at the Battle of Worcester, remained closely associated with Charles II, held a number of high offices after the Restoration and was one of the most cynical and brilliant members of the King’s entourage, immortalised as ‘Zimri’ in Dryden’s Absalom and Achitopbel. As a young man he had sold his father’s great collection of pictures in the Spanish Netherlands, many of them to the Archduke Leopold Willhelm. Painted for Charles I and placed near the portrait of their sister in the Gallery at St James’ Palace. The handling of both costumes is very rich, and the heads are very carefully and sensitively worked. That of the younger boy in particular is more solidly built up than the lower part of the figure. A preparatory drawing for the younger boy is in the British Museum. There are copies at, e.g., Highclere Castle...

Antiveduto Gramatica or Grammatica (Rome, Italy, 1571 – 1626) Title: Magdalene Praying with a Skull Medium:Oil on canvas Dimensions: without frame 58 x 43.2 cm - with frame 85 x 72 x...

The Tribute Money, 17th Century follower of TITIAN (1488-1576) 17th Century Italian Old Master of Christ & The Tribute Money, oil on canvas. Early Italian School depiction of the T...

This stunning Old Master 17th century oil portrait painting is attributed to Francesco Fieravino, an artist famous in his day for still lifes and carpets. This painting which dates t...

Gerard SOEST (1600 - 1681) Portrait of a Young Boy oil on canvas 35.5 x 30.5 inches inc. frame Gerard Soest (circa 1600 – 11 February 1681), also known as Gerald Soest, was a portra...

The painting is about the Florentine school and a seventeenth-century Italian school. Oil on canvas without signature After Lorenzo Lippi (1606–1665) who was a prominent Florentine...

17th Century Antoon van Dyck Follower Religious Painting A very important not signed painting from the Flemish school, attributed to an artist from the circle of the great painter A...

Artist/ School: 17th Century Dutch School Title: Ladies Collecting Flowers Medium: oil painting on panel, framed Oval : 6.75 x 9.25 inches, frame...

The Triumph Of Galatea, 19th Century follower of Scarsellino (1550-1620) Large 16th 17th Century Italian Old Master of the Triumph of Galatea, oil on canvas. Excellent quality and ...

David Finsonius (Veere 1597- Bergen op Zoom 1646/1648) Portrait of a girl with a rose and a red coral necklace With traces of the artist’s signature and annotated AETATIS S.V. 2 1⁄2 Ao 1631 Oil on panel, H. 104.5 x 79.5 cm Provenance: Purchased by Jonkheer Helenus Marius Speelman (1857-1909), Kasteel de Wittenburg; thence by descent The work shows a strong resemblance to a portrait by Finsonius in the North Brabant Museum. This signed and dated "Girl with Basket and Cherries" (Inv. 15529), was painted just a year later, in 1632. Not only are the paintings remarkably similar in overall size and format, in painting style, and in the positioning of the girls in full length in their white lace dresses. They are also connected by the iconographic scheme of the respective coral necklaces, each with a gold memorial medal hanging from it. Although they are of course individuals, the faces are very similar in their depictions of features such as eyes, nose, and lips. This points to the same technique applied by the same painter. Finally, the handwriting is almost the same on the works by Finsonius known so far. About the painter, David Finson named 'Finsonius' (related to the better-known Louis Finson...

Portrait of John Ludford (1653-1681), wearing a lace jabot and brown and gold trimmed cloak in a feigned stone oval cartouche. Inscribed 'John Ludford, Esq, nat. 14th March 1653, Ob,...

Lucas de la Haye, called Luca Fiammingo (Nivelles, 1612-Rome, 1682) Saint Cecilia and two cherubs Oil on canvas 118 x 91 cm. -Framed 129 x 102 cm. Expertise of Prof. Emilio Negro (Bologna) This evocative painting, which we are delighted to exhibit to you, has Saint Cecilia, the Roman noblewoman who later converted to Christianity and a very popular figure in the Baroque period as the patron saint of music, instrumentalists and singers, at the centre of the composition. She is depicted here as a splendid maiden dressed in regal robes...

Anton Maria Piola (Genoa, 1654 - 1715) circle Madonna and Child Genoese school of the second half of the 17th century Oil on canvas 93 x 74 cm.- In antique frame 110 x 92 cm. (Work with expertise by Dr. Arabella Cifani) In the pleasing work proposed, depicting a classical Nativity scene, the Madonna is immortalised in adoration as she gently holds the sheet on which the Child is lying, with a gesture of protection and pride that facilitates an atmosphere of intimate recollection, in addition to the presence of three cherubs at the top. The stylistic analysis of the canvas can easily be traced back to a painter of the Genoese school and active during the 17th century, specifically with the devotional works from the workshop of Domenico Piola (Genoa, 1627-1703), an absolute protagonist of Genoese Baroque culture. Piola was the owner of the most important city painting workshop of the time, known as 'Casa Piola', where his sons Paolo Gerolamo and Anton Maria also collaborated. His production, which specialised in a type of highly decorative, profane and allegorical paintings, destined for the decoration of Genoese patrician palaces, also included a refined series of works of a religious nature. In particular, the style of our beautiful breast painting...

olio su tela, 62 x 51 cm (senza cornice) Il dipinto è stato per lungo attribuito alla mano di Francesco Gessi, allievo di Guido Reni, come riporta un'iscrizione a matita datata 1945...

Queen Joanne Of Castile & Aragon (1479-1555), Joanne The Mad, 17th Century Italian School Large 17th century Italian School Old Master portrait of Joanne, Queen of Castile. Excelle...

Portrait of Sir William Cowper [1639-1706] Circle of Michael Dahl. (unsigned)Oil painting on canvas 17th century oval, bust-length, with a long dark wig,...

Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646 - London 1723) circle of Portrait of a Gentleman in a Garden Oil on canvas 67 x 47 cm. Framed 84 x 64 cm. The painting depicts a nobleman portrayed f...

Jean-Baptiste SANTERRE (Magny en Véxins 1651 - Paris 1717) Portrait of a couple Oil on original oval canvas H. 115 cm; L. 90 cm (140 x 115 cm with frame) Around 1695 Jean-Baptiste S...

Ancient painting depicting Jesus with the Commissioner's son (Alternative reading: St. Joseph with the Child, or the 'Paternity') Giovan Battista Salvi known as "the Sassoferrato" (1609 - 1685) circle / follower Oil painting on canvas 76 x 59 cm. -With frame in the shape of a small temple, not coeval 99 x 84 cm. The interesting canvas that we are pleased to offer you recalls the iconographic model of classic paternity, which traditionally sees Saint Joseph holding the sleeping baby Jesus...

Oil on Canvas. Portrait of a nobleman, proud with his hand resting on the 'hilt of his sword and dressed in an ermine-edged cloak. On the upper right appears the coat of arms of his ...

Portrait Of A Lady As Diana, 17th Century Dutch School Large 17th Century Dutch Old Master portrait of a lady as Diana, oil on canvas . Exc...

Portrait of Lady Sarah Cowper, nee Holled [1644-1720]-Circle of Michael Dahl (unsigned)17th century,Oil painting on canvas oval,bust-length . She has dar...

Portrait Of A Lady, Frances Bard (1646-1702) Mistress of Prince Rupert von de Pfalz, Duke of Cumberland (1619-1882) follower of Anthony Van Dyck (1...

Felice Cignani (Bologna 1658 - Forlì 1724) The Miracle of Saint Francis of Paola Oil on canvas 165 x 111 cm In frame 182 x 129 cm Work accompanied by an appraisal by Prof. Em...

This is a superb Italian Old Master portrait oil painting attributed to circle of Guido Reni. It is a half length portrait of the penitent Mary Magdalene...

In 1607, the Delft city council decided to commission a portrait of Stadholder Maurits of Nassau for the town hall, with Michiel van Mierevelt as the chosen artist due to the passing...

Florentine painter, 17th-18th century Equestrian portrait of Pietro Strozzi (Florence, 1511 - Thionville, 1558) Oil on canvas 79 x 115 cm. - Framed cm. 92 x 127 A valiant knight, p...

The Flagellation of Christ Old Master Flemish School 17th century Medium: Oil on copper Dimensions: Image size 22 x 17 cm, frame size 39 x 31 cm

Very decorative, 17th century, old master painting, oil on canvas, King Alexander Magnus, the great. Illustration of two children, putti, with wreaths of flowers on a board (or maus...

Portrait of a lady richly dressed in a purple silk gown with white sleeves, a gold coloured cloak draped across one shoulder, her blonde curls worn up...

Gilbert Soest 1605-1681 Portrait of a Lady Oil on canvas Image size: 30 x 25 inches (76.2 x 63.5 cm) Original carved gilt frame Provenance Private Estate, England This portrait dep...

Jan Meerhoud Gorinchem 1633 – 1677 Amsterdam Dutch School Golden Age 'Traveller in a Dutch Village' Signature: signed lower left Medium: oil on panel Dimensions: image size 21 x 2...

Christ Wearing The Crown Of Thorns, 17th Century circle of Carlo Dolci (1616-1686) Large 17th Century Italian Old Master of Christ wearing the Crown of Thorns, oil on canvas. Excel...

A very important painting by the great artist of the Florentine school, Onorio Marinari. Dr. Silvia Benassai has confirmed Marinari’s authorship of the Saint Margaret of Antioch; ava...

Jan Janssens (Ghent, Belgium, 1590 - after 1650) Title: Saint John the Baptist Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: without frame 76 x 62 cm – with frame 97 x 83 x 6 cm Not signed Expe...

The Flagellation of Christ, 17th Century Italian School Fine huge 17th Century Italian Old Master depiction of the Flagellation of Christ, oil on canvas. Excellent quality full len...

This atmospheric 18th century portrait oil painting is attributed to a Scottish artist. Painted circa 1790, The painting is a half length portrait of a seated gentleman. He is wearing a blue bonnet, the badge of a Scottish country gentleman and smoking a clay pipe. The way the light catches his hand and face and gleams on his buttons is lovely. The frame is super in that it echoes the button on his jacket. This is an excellent example of an 18th century Scottish portrait...

Antonio Alberti (1603 - 1649) Portrait of Cardinal Antonio Marcello Barberini (Florence 1569 – Rome 1646) Inscription on the bottom: F.M D.D ANTONIUS BARBERINUS ROM. O. CAP. S.R.E. ...

Rare pair of Italian paintings from the second half of the 17th century. Oil on canvas artworks depicting two splendid female figures recognizable thanks to the inscriptions at the b...

The Knight is an original painting realized by Pietro della Vecchia during the XVII century. Oil on board. Original title: Ritratto di giovane cavaliere con cappello piumato. Includ...

Cardinal with missive is an original old master artwork realized in the 17th Century. Mixed colored oil painting on canvas. Provenance: Italy. Avery precoius artwork depicting a ca...