Circle of Sir Peter Lely (British, 1618-1680) Portrait of John Somers Wearing a Large Wig and Br...

Circle of Sir Peter Lely (British, 1618-1680) Portrait of John Somers Wearing a Large Wig and Brown Mantle unsigned; with a label from Newman Galleries, Philadelphia (on the reverse of the frame) oil on canvas (oval format) 76.0 x 63.0 cm (29 15/16 x 24 13/16 in). oval frame 90.0 x 75.0 x 4.0 cm (35 3/8 x 29 1/2 x 1 5/8 in). Footnotes: N.B. The present portrait depicts John Somers (1651-1716), 1st Baron Somers, PC FRS. Somers was a trusted advisor of King William III of England (King William II of Scotland), under whom he was named Lord High Chancellor of England, and was instrumental in the 1707 union between Scotland and England. The portrait at hand is recorded in the digital collection of the Frick Library. The documentation there includes a typed memo signed by J. Somers Smith of Philadelphia on October 26, 1937. The memo provides the following provenance: The estate of a nobleman, Reigate, Surrey, England. Mrs. Aline Lee, London (acquired from the previous). Sotheby's, London, June 25, 1930, lot 66. Baruch M. Feldman (acquired from the previous, as Renaissance Galleries). Samuel T. Freeman & Co., Philadelphia (acquired by the previous). J. Somers Smith (acquired from the previous, May 1, 1931). Further research by Mr. J. Somers Smith revealed that the portrait had once hung in the hall at Reigate Priory in Surrey, England. Reigate Priory was founded in the early 13th century as an Augustinian priory, and upon its dissolution in 1536 it became the residence of William Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Effingham (1510-1573) and uncle of Catherine Howard. By the late 1700s the priory was the property of the Somerset family. In 1921 the priory was purchased by the prominent naval commander David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty, and in 1938 his son Peter Beatty (1910-1949) became its final private owner. Since 1938 Reigate has been in use as a school. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing