John Riley, or Ryley, was an English portrait painter.
Background
John Riley was born in 1646 in London, one of the sons of William Ryley, Lancaster Herald and keeper of the records in the Tower of London, who was created Norroy king-at-arms under the Commonwealth, but reverted to his herald's office at the Restoration. Another son, Thomas Riley, was an actor.
Education
Riley studied painting under Isaac Fuller and Gerard Soest, and from the latter learnt a forcible, straightforward style of portraiture which rendered his portraits noteworthy.
Career
Riley did not attain much eminence until the death of Sir Peter Lely, when courtier and royal official Thomas Chiffinch sat for him, and was so much pleased with his portrait that he showed it to the king. Charles II gave Riley some commissions, and eventually himself sat for him, apparently saying of the result: "Is this like me? Oddsfish, then I'm an ugly fellow!" Riley also painted James II and Mary of Modena, and, on the accession of William III and Mary II, he was appointed court painter, jointly with Sir Godfrey Kneller, though he only survived for three years after this.
His most successful works are often said to be three unusual portraits of servants. He painted a grand full-length of Bridget Holmes dated 1686 in the Royal Collection. She was a "necessary woman" at court whose duties included emptying and scouring chamber pots and cleaning the royal apartments. She served during the reigns of Charles I, Charles II, James II, and William III and Mary II. Two other, smaller, portraits of servants are Katherine Elliot (also Royal Collection) and A Scullion in the Christ Church Picture Gallery, Oxford.
He was assisted in painting (at least) his draperies and accessories by John Closterman, who finished several of Riley's pictures after his death.
Riley, who suffered very much from gout, died in March 1691, and was buried in the church of St. Botolph, Bishopsgate. The registers of this church contain various entries relating to his family, including the burial, on January 11, 1692–3, of his wife Jochebed.
Anne Rider, Sister of John Smith, Speaker of the House of Commons
James Sotheby
William, Lord Maxwell
John Dryden
Probably Sir Edward Blackett
William Gregory
Richard Busby
Dorothy Mason, Lady Brownlow
Sir John Boys
Sir John Sherard
Frances Russell
Sir Peyton Ventris
William Chiffinch
Sir John Moore
James Scott
Charles Fanshawe, 4th Viscount Fanshawe of Dromore
Sir John Powell
Elizabeth Mulso
Mary Morice of Wirrington
Sir Samuel Eyre
Henry Compton
Sir Robert Eyre
James Drummond
Sir William Brownlow
Anne Morice of Wirrington
Sir Harbottle Grimston, Speaker
Henry St John
Richard Oxenden
King Charles II
Colin, 3rd Earl of Balcarres
Richard Oxenden
John Dolben
King Charles II
Robert Boyle
James Scott
Sarah
Sir Thomas Vernon of Twickenham Park
Sir John Pole
William Chiffinch
Elias Ashmole
Francis North, 1st Baron Guilford
Sir John Carew
Robert Sanderson
William Russell
James Bertie
Thomas Otway
Alice Sherard
Sir Christopher Wren
Sir Robert Clayton
Prince Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange
Sir William Massingberd
Portrait of a Man
Nathaniel, Lord Crewe
Thomas Marsham of Stratton Strawless
Catherine of Braganza, Queen Consort of Charles II
John Morris
Sir Josiah Child, Bt, MP
Henry Somerset
Mrs Joseph Cox, née Elizabeth Macro
A Scullion of Christ Church
Personality
Riley was said to be a quiet, modest man, very diffident of his own art, but his portraits are truthful and lifelike. With more self-confidence he might have attained to the position of Lely or Kneller.