Art Funded by you

Portrait of Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland, with her son

Sir Peter Lely, c. 1664

Barbara Villiers was Charles II's leading mistress in the early years of his reign and became Duchess of Cleveland in 1670. This portrait depicts the King's mistress with her eldest son by the King, Charles Fitzroy, later created Duke of Southampton and then Duke of Cleveland. It is the most audacious of Lely's role portraits as it depicts the mistress and illegitimate son as Madonna and Child. This work was acquired with assistance from the Wolfson Foundation.

More information

Title of artwork, date

Portrait of Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland, with her son, c. 1664

Date supported

2005

Medium and material

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

124.7 x 102 cm

Grant

40000

Total cost

147000

Content note: This object record is part of our archive and has not been updated since it was first published. It may contain inaccurate information or outdated language. Please get in touch if you think this record should be amended.

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