# Peter Lely

> 17th-century Dutch painter (1618–1680)

**Wikidata**: [Q161336](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q161336)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Lely)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/peter-lely

## Summary
Peter Lely was a 17th-century Dutch painter active from 1618 to 1680. He is recognized for his work as a portraitist and held the title of Knight Bachelor. His career is situated within the era of the Dutch Republic, and he is known by numerous aliases including Sir Peter van der Faes Lilley.

## Biography
- Born: 1618
- Nationality: Dutch
- Education: Not available in source material
- Known for: Painting and artistic representation of persons (portraits)
- Employer(s): Not available in source material
- Field(s): Painting, Drafting, Design

## Contributions
Peter Lely's contributions are primarily defined by his artistic output and professional associations within the 17th-century art community. He is connected to the artwork "A Woman Feeding a Parrot, with a Page," a painting created by Caspar Netscher in 1666, which falls under the category of works owned or operated by Lely. His professional network included affiliations with British painter Henry Anderton and connections to French painter Nicolas de Largillière.

## FAQs
**What is Peter Lely best known for?**
Peter Lely is best known as a 17th-century Dutch painter who specialized in portraits and the artistic representation of people.

**What titles did Peter Lely hold?**
He held the title of Knight Bachelor, a distinction granted to men knighted by the British monarch outside of organized orders of chivalry.

**Who were Peter Lely's contemporaries and associates?**
Lely was affiliated with Henry Anderton, a British painter active from 1630 to 1667, and connected to Nicolas de Largillière, a French painter who lived from 1656 to 1746.

**What are some alternative names for Peter Lely?**
He is recorded under numerous aliases, including Sir Peter Lelly, P. Lilli, Pierre Leli, Sr Peter Lilley, Sir Lely, Sir Peter van der Faes Lilley, P. Lilij, and Sir Peter van der Faes Lilly.

## Why They Matter
Peter Lely holds significance as a prominent artistic figure whose life spanned the early to late 17th century. His recognition as a Knight Bachelor indicates a high level of official favor and prestige during his lifetime. His connections to other notable painters of the era, such as Nicolas de Largillière and Henry Anderton, position him within a critical network of European artists who influenced the visual culture of the Dutch Republic and beyond.

## Notable For
- Active during the Dutch Republic era (1581–1795).
- Held the title of Knight Bachelor.
- Recognized as a painter, draftsperson, and designer.
- Associated with the painting "A Woman Feeding a Parrot, with a Page" (1666) by Caspar Netscher.
- Known by a wide variety of aliases, including variations of "Lilley," "Lelli," and "van der Faes."

## Body
### Professional Identity and Practice
Peter Lely was a multi-faceted artist who practiced painting, drafting, and design. His primary occupation was that of a painter, with a specific focus on the artistic representation of one or more persons, known as portraits. As a painter, he engaged in the practice of applying paint, pigment, color, or other medium to a surface. His work is categorized under the broader definition of a human, specifically a member of Homo sapiens.

### Historical Context and Life Span
Lely's life and career took place during the existence of the Dutch Republic, the predecessor state of the Netherlands which existed from July 26, 1581, to 1795. He was born in 1618 and died in 1680, placing his entire career within the 17th century. This period aligns with the height of the Dutch Republic's influence and cultural output.

### Recognition and Titles
In addition to his artistic practice, Lely received significant formal recognition. He was granted the title of Knight Bachelor. This title is historically granted to men who have been knighted by a British monarch but are not members of an organized order of chivalry. The institution of the Knight Bachelor title dates back to 1300.

### Artistic Associations and Network
Lely's professional life was marked by connections to other key figures in the art world. He was affiliated with Henry Anderton, a British painter who lived from 1630 to 1667. Additionally, Lely is listed as a key person connected to Nicolas de Largillière, a French painter active from 1656 to 1746. Lely also had a connection to the painting "A Woman Feeding a Parrot, with a Page," which was created by Caspar Netscher in 1666.

### Nomenclature and Aliases
Historical records identify Peter Lely under a significant number of aliases. These variations include Peter (Sir) Lely, Sir Peter Lelly, P. Lilli, Pierre Leli, Sr Peter Lilley, Sir Lely, Sir Peter van der Faes Lilley, Sir Peter Lely, P. Lilij, and Sir Peter van der Faes Lilly. This variety of names reflects the different ways his identity was recorded across different regions and documents during his lifetime.

## References

1. RKDartists
2. National Gallery of Art - Collection
3. KulturNav. 2016
4. Web umenia
5. Union List of Artist Names
6. Integrated Authority File
7. datos.bne.es
8. [Source](https://www.museabrugge.be/collection/work/id/2012_GRO0001_I)
9. The Fine Art Archive
10. [Collectie Boijmans Online](https://www.boijmans.nl/en/collection/artworks/64351/print)
11. Find a Grave
12. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
13. [Source](https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp02697/sir-peter-lely?search=sas&sText=lely&OConly=true)
14. International Standard Name Identifier
15. Japan Search
16. Virtual International Authority File
17. Peter Lely. RKDartists
18. SNAC
19. Biografisch Portaal
20. Discogs
21. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
22. Lely, Sir Peter
23. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
24. artist list of the National Museum of Sweden. 2016
25. Smithsonian American Art Museum person/institution ID
26. [Portret van luitenant-admiraal Cornelis Tromp. 1675](https://n2t.net/ark:/33862/collect/507190)
27. [Portret van Cornelis Tromp](https://n2t.net/ark:/33862/collect/601647)
28. CollectieGelderland
29. [Source](https://library.si.edu/art-and-artist-files)
30. HMML Authority File