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Unknown woman, formerly known as Nell Gwyn

2 of 30 portraits of Nell Gwyn

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Unknown woman, formerly known as 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

Sitterback to top

  • Eleanor ('Nell') Gwyn (1651?-1687), Actress; mistress of Charles II. Sitter associated with 30 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680), Portrait painter. Artist associated with 843 portraits, Sitter in 19 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

Linked publicationsback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1675back to top

Current affairs

James Scott, Duke of Monmouth oversees the suppression of the London weavers' riots which break out in the East End against the introduction of mechanised silk looms.
The great fire of Northampton quickly destroys the city. Charles II donates timber for its reconstruction.

Art and science

Charles II founds the Royal Observatory in Greenwich and appoints John Flamsteed the first Astronomer Royal.
Royal approval is given to the 'Warrant' design, Sir Christopher Wren's design for the rebuilding of St. Paul's Cathedral devastated by the Great Fire (1666).

International

A naval campaign into the Mediterranean under the command of Sir John Narbrough, with protégé, Cloudesley Shovell as lieutenant, blockades the port of Tripoli and successfully halts persistent attacks on English merchant ships by North African pirates. A peace treaty is signed with Tripoli in 1676.

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