Amelia Countess of Ossory

Lely, Peter, after · 1779

Mezzotint portrait on paper of Mary Bagot (1645-1679), Countess of Falmouth and Dorset, engraved by Thomas Watson (1743-1781) and published by Walter Shropshire (fl. 1767-1785) in London in 1779. The inscription misidentifies the sitter as Amelia Butler (1635-1688), Countess of Ossory. This is the fifth from a series of six mezzotints after paintings by Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680) from his series of 'Windsor Beauties' (women at the court of Charles II). The paintings were commissioned or assembled by Anne Hyde (1637-1671), Duchess of York. Lely's painting of Mary Bagot is in the Royal Collection (RCIN 404958).