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| Peter Lely Self-portrait (as engraved by Gerard Valck) ca. 1680 British Museum |
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| Peter Lely Portrait of a lady 17th century chalk drawing British Museum |
Upon Castara's Departure
Vows are vain. No suppliant breath
Stays the speed of swift-heeled death.
Life with her is gone, and I
Learn but a new way to die.
See the flowers condole, and all
Wither in my funeral.
The bright lily, as if day
Parted with her, fades away.
Violets hang their heads, and lose
All their beauty. That the rose
A sad part in sorrow bears,
Witness all those dewy tears,
Which as pearl, or diamond-like,
Swell upon her blushing cheek.
All things mourn, but oh behold
How the withered marigold
Closeth up now she is gone,
Judging her the setting sun.
– William Habington (1634)
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| Peter Lely Portrait of a gentleman 17th century drawing British Museum |
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| Peter Lely Portrait of a lady 17th century chalk drawing British Museum |
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| Peter Lely Portrait of John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale 1670s drawing British Museum |
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| Peter Lely after Anthony van Dyck Edward, 1st Lord Littleton of Mounslow 17th century drawing British Museum |
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| Peter Lely Portrait of a lady 17th century drawing British Museum |
To Castara, Being to Take a Journey
What's death, more than departure? The dead go
Like travelling exiles, compelled to know
Those regions they heard mention of: 'tis the art
Of sorrow says, 'who die do but depart.'
Then weep thy funeral tears, which heaven, to adorn
The beauteous tresses of the weeping morn,
Will rob me of; and thus my tomb shall be
As naked, as it had no obsequy.
Know, in these lines' sad music to thy ear,
My sad Castara, you the sermon hear
Which I preach o'er my hearse. And dead, I tell
My own life's story, ring but my own knell.
But when I shall return, know 'tis thy breath
In sighs divided, rescues me from death.
– William Habington (1634)
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| Peter Lely Lady with a veil 17th century chalk drawing British Museum |
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| Peter Lely Portrait of Sir Charles Cotterell (Master of Ceremonies to Charles II) ca. 1660 chalk drawing British Museum |
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| attributed to Peter Lely Studies of a child's head 17th century drawing British Museum |
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| attributed to Peter Lely Studies of men's heads 17th century drawing British Museum |
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| Peter Lely Portrait of John Greenhill (pupil of the artist) 17th century chalk drawing British Museum |
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| Peter Lely Portrait of Anne Lely as a small girl 17th century drawing British Museum |
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| Peter Lely Portrait of a girl 1650s chalk drawing British Museum |
I am grateful to the British Museum for making these images available.