Jane Needham, Mrs Myddleton (1646-92) with a cornucopia, possibly as Demeter, Peter Lely

Jane needham was the daughter of sir robert needham and in 1660 she married charles myddelton of ruabon in wales. Described by john evelyn as 'that famous and indeed incomparable beauty', she was pursued by both king charles ii and the duke of york, but resisted becoming a royal mistress, although she was the mistress of the duke of montagu and later the earl of rochester. Her beauty inspired the poets edmund waller and saint-evremond. Pepys also records that she was a skilful amateur painter. Object Type: painting. Genre: portrait. Date: between circa 1663 and circa 1665. Dimensions: height: 124.1 cm (48.8 in); width: 101.6 cm (40 in). Medium: oil on canvas. Depicted People: Jane Myddelton. Collection: Royal Collection. Jane Needham, Mrs Myddleton, 1663-5 by Lely