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

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