English painting before the XVIII century was largely dominated by foreign
artists: Holbein in the XVI century; Van Dyck in the first half of the
XVII century; and, in the second half, the Dutchman, Sir Peter Lely, who
came to England in 1641 and speedily won great reputation as a portrait
painter, imitating the style of Van Dyck who had just died. Lely’s work
is distinguished by many excellent qualities, although marred by the
pompous artificiality of his time. He is at his best in such a portrait
as this, painted shortly after his arrival in England, of the second Earl
of Clarendon (1638-1709) as a boy.
[The Concert. Michiel van Musscher, 1645-1705]