Studio of Sir Peter Lely

Studio of Sir Peter Lely
Portrait of Letitia, later Lady Russell (c.1645–1721), three-quarter-length, seated in a landscape, wearing a brown dress and a blue cloak, holding a garland of leaves
Oil on canvas
125.1 x 102cm; 49¼ x 40¼in

Provenance:
By family descent to the present owner

The present portrait depicts Letitia Russell, daughter of the Hon. Edward Russell, second son of the 4th Earl of Bedford. Her first husband was Colonel Thomas Cheke (1628–1688) with whom she had two children. Following his death, she married in 1690 her cousin the Hon. Robert Russell, who was styled Lord Russell from 1694. Another version of the work by Sir Peter Lely, formerly the property of the Marquess of Downshire, was sold at Sotheby's, London, 6 April 2022, lot 37.