Study of the Forearms and Hands of a Woman 1665

Sir Peter Lely made this drawing, Study of the Forearms and Hands of a Woman, using graphite and red chalk on paper. Lely was the most important portraitist in England during the 1660s, amidst the Restoration period following the reign of Charles II. The drawing is a study of the posture and hands, rather than the face, of a woman who probably belonged to the aristocratic circles that Lely served. During the 17th century the representation of women, particularly in portraiture, served specific cultural and social functions linked to class and gender. This drawing, though a study, encapsulates the demure posture and soft femininity which were the focus of the male gaze at the time. While the woman’s identity remains unknown, the drawing reflects the gendered expectations of the period. Her crossed arms and gentle hands speak to the period’s emphasis on women's beauty and social role.