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Description: | Portrait of Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), painted just after the inauguration of the Protectorate. This painting became, to some extent, the official image of Cromwell. The body is modelled closely on Van Dyck. Lely gives Cromwell a martial image, retaining a plain style of collar and black armour. Unusually, Cromwell's eyes do not meet ours or even look up. Instead, they look down and to his left, giving the portrait a somewhat distant, contemplative tone. It was Sir Peter Lely that Cromwell was reported to have advised to 'use all your skill to paint my picture truly like me & not flatter me at all. But remark all these ruffness, pimples, warts and everything as you see me' (Knoppers, 2000). These comments were first recorded in the eighteenth century by George Vertue and are thought by some to refer not to Lely but to Cooper, whose watercolour miniature resembles Lely's painting. It is not clear whether Lely was inspired by Cooper's image or vice-versa. | Subjects: | portrait (Oliver Cromwell) | Source: | Vads | Creator: | Artist: Lely, Peter (Dutch painter and draftsman, 1618-1680, active in England) Æ After Cooper, Samuel (English miniaturist, probably born 1608, died 1672) | Identifier: | http://www.vads.ac.uk/large.php?uid=9170... | Go to resource |
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