This imposing work was the talk of the saleroom after it drew dramatic interest against a £3000-5000 estimate and was knocked down to a London dealer at £62,000. Catalogued as 'in the manner of Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680)', the portrait had been dated to the last quarter of the 17th century. There was also a suggestion that it may have been produced in Lely's studio and even perhaps with some involvement of the master himself.
The 5ft 6in x 5ft 2in (1.67 x 1.57m) relined oil on canvas carried an inscription, thought to be in a later hand, which identified the subjects as The Honourable Francis and Henry Lennard - the younger brothers of Thomas Lennard, 15th Lord Dacre and 1st Earl of Sussex.
Lely is known to have painted their parents in c.1650.
The buyer's premium was 17.5%.
