Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lilly, Edmond
LILLY, EDMOND (d. 1716), portrait-painter, probably of Norfolk origin, executed portraits of enormous dimensions, and occasionally attempted fruit and flowers. His work is very indifferent, ‘weak in drawing and expression, cold and grey in colour.’ There is by him at Blenheim a large full-length portrait of Queen Anne, dated 1703. This is his best-known work; a copy of it was exhibited at the Manchester Exhibition in 1857 as by Closterman. He painted another portrait of Queen Anne, which was engraved in mezzotint by J. Simon. Another portrait by him was that of the Duke of Gloucester. His painting of Jeremy Collier [q. v.] was engraved in mezzotint by William Faithorne, junior [q. v.] Other pictures by him are ‘The Salutation’ (5 feet by 7½ feet), ‘The Goddess Minerva’ (5 feet by 8 feet), ‘A Devout Virgin’ (3 feet 4 inches by 4 feet 2 inches), and a ‘Picture of Grapes’ (30 inches by 25 inches). He also made a copy of Vandyck's ‘Duchess of Richmond’ (5½ feet by 4 feet). Lilly was buried at Richmond, Surrey, on 25 May 1716 (parish register). He was a bachelor, and lived on a small annuity. In his will, which was proved 11 July 1716, he mentions relations named Lilly, Hindley, and Storer.
[Information from Lionel Cust, esq., F.S.A., and George Scharf, esq., C.B., F.S.A.; Chaloner Smith's British Mezzotinto Portraits; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists, 1878, p. 272; will registered in P. C. C. 149, Fox.]