Mary Capel (1630–1715), Later Duchess of Beaufort, and Her Sister Elizabeth (1633–1678), Countess of Carnarvon

Art Historical Context

This elegant double portrait by Sir Peter Lely, preeminent court painter of Restoration England, captures the noble sisters Mary Capel ( Duchess of Beaufort) and (Countess of Carnarvon in a moment of poised intimacy. Painted in oil on canvas—a medium favored for its luminous depth and ability to render sumptuous fabrics and skin tones—Lely's work exemplifies the Baroque style he adapted from masters like Van Dyck. the exact date is unknown, it dates to the 1660s or 1670s, during Charles II's reign, when such portraits celebrated the aristocracy's return to splendor after the English Civil War. Lely's technique shines in the sisters' soft, expressive faces and flowing drapery, which convey both familial affection and social prestige. Mary and Elizabeth, daughters of a prominent royalist family, embody the era's ideal of refined femininity, their elaborate gowns signaling wealth and status. These portraits were more than likenesses; they were tools of identity and legacy for elite women navigating courtly life. Now at The Metropolitan Museum of Art through the 1939 bequest of Jacob Ruppert, this 51¼ × 67-inch canvas invites us to glimpse 17th-century England's vibrant upper crust, where art flattered the powerful and preserved their stories for posterity.