In his early years, Lely used the model who appears in this picture in a variety of guises.  She is included in the Europa and the Bull (Devonshire Collection Trustees, Chatsworth, Derbyshire), The Nymphs and Satyrs (Dulwich Picture Gallery), Susanna and the Elders (Burghley House, Exeter Trustees and Birmingham, City Art Gallery) and the Cimon and Iphigenia (Knole, Kent, Lord Sackville). The picture is not strictly a portrait as the model is shown en deshabille and without any of the attributes which would indicate her possible social status. Lely’s continental background means that the picture could be interpreted as a ‘fancy piece’ and there is neither specific subject matter nor identifiable sitter.

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