Nell Gwyn (1651?-1687), Actress; mistress of Charles II
Eleanor ('Nell') Gwyn
Sitter associated with 28 portraits
'Pretty witty Nell', as Pepys called her, came to London as an orange-seller and rose to become one of the leading comic actresses of the day, and mistress to the King, Charles II. The playwright Dryden supplied her with a series of saucy, bustling parts, ideally suited to her talents. She had two sons by the King, the elder of whom was created Duke of St Albans, and she was said to have been remembered by Charles on his deathbed with the words 'Let not poor Nelly starve'.
'Legend of Chelsea Hospital' (King Charles II; Eleanor ('Nell') Gwyn)
published by Joseph Hogarth, after Unknown artist
stipple engraving, published 1845
NPG D29271
by Henry T. Greenhead, after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, before 16 June 1913
NPG D35092
- Use this image
- Recent acquisition
attributed to Simon Verelst
oil on canvas, circa 1670
NPG L248
by and published by Gerard Valck, after Samuel Cooper
line engraving, circa 1700-1725
NPG D19832
by Peter van Bleeck, after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, 1751
NPG D18788
published by Samuel William Fores
stipple engraving, published 7 May 1786
NPG D19680
Theatre and Live Entertainment
Groups
Actors and actresses
Courtesans and courtiers
Place
London
