Windsor Beauties

The Windsor Beauties are a set of portrait paintings, still in the Royal Collection, by Sir Peter Lely and his workshop, produced in the early to mid-1660s, that depict ladies of the court of King Charles II, some of whom were his mistresses.

Some women wear current fashions; others are draped in loose robes intended to evoke classical antiquity.

Moved to the castle's state rooms during the 18th century, the Windsor Beauties were transferred to Hampton Court at some time prior to 1835.

[4] The original set of "Beauties" painted by Lely include, depending on the source, these 12 portraits: The portraits for the first 10 names are included on the Royal Collection website as "probably commissioned by Anne, Duchess of York and Albany".

The Duchess does not figure in the list of beauties often; but since she was largely responsible for choosing the sitters, she was also painted as part of the series.