My family became possessed of six fine portraits at the death of Lord Vane,
husband to that lady of unenviable notoriety, a sketch of whose life
(presented by her own hand to the author) is inserted, under the title
"Adventures of a Lady of Quality," in _Peregrine Pickle_. I quote from my
{172} relation who knew the facts.[2] Lord Vane was the last of his race,
and died at Fairlawn, Kent, probably about the latter half of the last
century.[3] The successor to his fortune selected a few pictures, and left
the remaining, of which mine formed a part, to his principal agent.
Amateurs say they are by Sir Peter Lely: a fact I should be glad to
establish. I have searched Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, and Knowle Park
collections in vain for duplicates.
No. 1. is a young man in what appears to be a court dress, exhibiting
armour beneath the folds of the drapery. Point lace neck-tie. 2. Do., in
brocaded silk and fringed dress. Point lace neck-tie and ruffles. A spaniel
introduced, climbing up his knee. 3. A youth sitting under a tree, with pet
lamb. Point lace neck-tie and ruffles, but of simple dress. 4. A lady in
flowing drapery. Pearls in her hair and round her neck, sitting under a
tree. An orange blossom in her hand. 5. A lady seated in an apartment with
marble columns. Costume similar to No. 4, minus the pearls in the hair. A
kind of wreath in her hand. 6. A lady in simple, flowing drapery, without
jewellery, save a broach or clasp on her left shoulder; holding a flower in
her right hand. In all, the background is _very dark_, but trees and
buildings can be traced through the gloom. The hands are models, and
_beautifully painted_. Size of pictures, divested of their carved and gilt
frames, four feet two inches by three feet four inches. If any of your
readers can, from this description, give me any clue to the name of the
artist, it will greatly oblige and be duly appreciated by an elderly
spinster.