Catherine Sedley, Countess of Dorchester

Sitterback to top

• Catherine Sedley, Countess of Dorchester (1657-1717), Mistress of James II. Sitter associated with 12 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680), Portrait painter. Artist associated with 824 portraits, Sitter associated with 18 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Known for her vivacious personality, Catherine Sedley was a member of the court of Charles II where she won the devotion of James, Duke of York. She was astonished at his passion, saying: 'It cannot be my beauty, for he must see I have none; and it cannot be my wit, for he has not enough to know that I have any'. She became his mistress, however, and was made a countess after James's accession to the throne. Although there is good evidence to suggest that this is the Countess of Dorchester, Lely's portraits of the women at Charles II's court all approximate to one fashionable face. This pose and setting, showing the sitter in a rocky landscape, was one of the artist's favourite designs.

Related worksback to top

• NPG D18790: Catherine Sedley, Countess of Dorchester (after)

Linked publicationsback to top

• Foskett, Daphne, Samuel Cooper, 1974 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 15 March - 15 June 1974), p. 128
• Ingamells, John, Later Stuart Portraits 1685-1714, 2009, p. 73
• Piper, David, Catalogue of Seventeenth Century Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery, 1625-1714, 1963, p. 110
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 183

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Jewellery
• Landscapes
• Lyme Park