John Earle of Heydon (1622-1697) and his Wife Sarah (1630-1667)

Born in Germany and trained in the Netherlands, Peter Lely moved to England in 1641, where he remained until his death. Quickly becoming the most fashionable portrait painter in the country, Lely was portrait artist to Charles I, Oliver Cromwell, Richard Cromwell and Charles II, his talent allowing him to survive the extreme changes in the establishment. Lely was much sought after by English aristocrats and received several portrait commissions in Norfolk.

The painting portrays John Earle (1622-1697) and his wife Sarah (1630-1667). Based at Heydon Hall near Aylsham, John was a barrister and became High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1654, around the time this portrait is thought to have been painted. The focal points of the painting are the central motif of hand holding and John Earle's pointing gesture; they are often associated with marriage portraits, although this portrait post-dates the Earles' marriage. The half-length double portrait is a format popularised in the Low Countries in the early seventeenth century. It was a favourite of Anthony Van Dyck, who brought the tradition with him when he came to England to work for King Charles I.