Mary Capel (1630–1715), Later Duchess of Beaufort, and Her Sister Elizabeth (1633–1678), Countess of Carnarvon

Art Historical Context

This elegant double portrait by Sir Peter Lely, preeminent court painter of Restoration England, captures the noble sisters Mary Capel ( Duchess of Beaufort) and (Countess of Carnarvon in a moment of poised intimacy. Painted in oil on canvas—a medium favored for its luminous depth and ability to render sumptuous fabrics and skin tones—Lely's work exemplifies the Baroque style he adapted from masters like Van Dyck. the exact date is unknown, it dates to the 1660s or 1670s, during Charles II's reign, when such portraits celebrated the aristocracy's return to splendor after the English Civil War....