First Previous 1 OF 28 NextLast

Unknown woman, formerly known as Eleanor ('Nell') Gwyn

1 of 28 portraits of Nell Gwyn

Unknown woman, formerly known as Eleanor ('Nell') Gwyn, studio of Sir Peter Lely, circa 1675 - NPG - © National Portrait Gallery, London

© National Portrait Gallery, London

Unknown woman, formerly known as Eleanor ('Nell') Gwyn

studio of Sir Peter Lely
oil on canvas, circa 1675
50 in. x 40 in. (1270 mm x 1016 mm)
Purchased, 1956
Primary Collection
NPG 3976


Click on the links below to find out more:

Sitterback to top

  • Eleanor ('Nell') Gwyn (1651?-1687), Actress; mistress of Charles II. Sitter associated with 28 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

The pose of the sitter, with a lamb, was a standard pattern used by Lely and his studio in a number of portraits of different women.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG D11443: Mary (née Kirke), Lady Vernon (same pose)
  • NPG D10959: Eleanor ('Nell') Gwyn (source portrait)

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
  • Perry, Gill (introduction) Roach, Joseph (appreciation) and West, Shearer (appreciation), The First Actresses: Nell Gwyn to Sarah Siddons, 2011 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 20 October 2011 to 8 January 2012), p. 74
  • Piper, David, The English Face, 1992, p. 99
  • Piper, David, Catalogue of Seventeenth Century Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery, 1625-1714, 1963, p. 148
  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 269

Subjects & Themesback to top