This recently identified painting is a variant of an official portrait in London’s National Portrait Gallery attributed to Lely. The sitter, Sir Edward Seymour (1632 - 1708), belonged to an influential family from Berry Pomeroy, was a Member of Parliament, and twice served as Speaker of the House of Commons. Born in Germany to Dutch parents, by 1637 Lely was a member of the Guild of Saint Luke in Haarlem, where he trained. Ten years later he was in London, where he painted landscapes, religious scenes, and history pictures but quickly recognized the strength of the market in portraiture. Working for many of the late Anthony van Dyck's patrons, Lely became the Principal Painter of the restored English monarchy in 1661.
