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King James II

(1633-1701), Reigned 1685-88

Later Stuart Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter associated with 134 portraits
James II became king in 1685 as his brother Charles II left no legitimate heir. Before inheriting the throne, James took an active role in politics. He championed English commercial interests, becoming governor of the Royal Fisheries Company and the Royal Africa Company which had a monopoly over the trade in enslaved Africans across the Atlantic. A convert to Roman Catholicism ruling a largely Protestant population, he advocated greater tolerance towards Catholics in his Declaration of Indulgence of 1687. When the Archbishop of Canterbury and six bishops requested he reconsider, they were arrested. In 1688, a group of Protestant nobles asked William, Prince of Orange to come to England with an army. James fled to France, where he lived in exile for the rest of his life, while William of Orange and his wife Mary, James's Protestant daughter, reigned in Britain.

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King James II, by Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen) - NPG 5104

King James II

by Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
oil on panel, 1639
NPG 5104

King James II, by Sir Peter Lely - NPG 5211

King James II

by Sir Peter Lely
oil on canvas, circa 1665-1670
On display in Room 7 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 5211

King James II, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG 6277

King James II

after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
watercolour on vellum on card, based on a work of 1684
NPG 6277

King James II, after Unknown artist - NPG D29311

King James II

after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D29311

King James II, probably by William Faithorne, after  Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen) - NPG D22819

King James II

probably by William Faithorne, after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
line engraving, late 1630s-1640s
NPG D22819

Progeny of Charles I, published by Edward Cooper, after  Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG D26448

Progeny of Charles I

published by Edward Cooper, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, (1637)
NPG D26448

King James II, by William Faithorne - NPG D22794

King James II

by William Faithorne
line engraving, 1640s-1650s
NPG D22794

King James II, after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D18565

King James II

after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving and etching, 1650s?
NPG D18565

King James II, after Charles Wautier (Wautiers, Woutiers) - NPG D18567

King James II

after Charles Wautier (Wautiers, Woutiers)
line engraving, 1650s?
NPG D18567

King James II, by Pieter de Jode II, after  Charles Wautier (Wautiers, Woutiers) - NPG D18568

King James II

by Pieter de Jode II, after Charles Wautier (Wautiers, Woutiers)
line engraving, 1650s?
NPG D18568

King James II, after Unknown artist - NPG D18570

King James II

after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1650s-1660s
NPG D18570

King James II, after Charles Wautier (Wautiers, Woutiers) - NPG D18569

King James II

after Charles Wautier (Wautiers, Woutiers)
line engraving, 1650s?
NPG D18569

Royall History Compleated 1660, by Unknown artist - NPG D22745

Royall History Compleated 1660

by Unknown artist
line engraving, published circa 1660
NPG D22745

King James II, after Unknown artist - NPG D18573

King James II

after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1660s-1670s
NPG D18573

Royals, sold by John Clark - NPG D29269

Royals

sold by John Clark
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D29269

King James II, by Robert Williams, after  Samuel Cooper, published by  Edward Cooper - NPG D29401

King James II

by Robert Williams, after Samuel Cooper, published by Edward Cooper
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D29401

King James II, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D30785

King James II

after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D30785

King James II, by and published by Johannes Willemsz ('Jan') van Munnickhuysen, after  Unknown artist - NPG D30799

King James II

by and published by Johannes Willemsz ('Jan') van Munnickhuysen, after Unknown artist
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D30799

King James II, by Robert White - NPG D30801

King James II

by Robert White
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D30801

King James II, by and published by John Smith, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D31060

King James II

by and published by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D31060

King James II, by Robert White, printed and sold by  John King - NPG D10653

King James II

by Robert White, printed and sold by John King
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D10653

King James II, by George Vertue, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D30786

King James II

by George Vertue, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D30786

King James II, after Adriaen van der Werff - NPG D18576

King James II

after Adriaen van der Werff
line and stipple engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18576

King James II, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D18578

King James II

after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
etching, late 17th century
NPG D18578

King James II, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D18579

King James II

after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18579

King James II, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D18580

King James II

after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18580

King James II, by Robert White, published by  John Overton - NPG D19485

King James II

by Robert White, published by John Overton
line engraving, circa 1675-1700
NPG D19485

King James II, published by Nicolaes Visscher II - NPG D19924

King James II

published by Nicolaes Visscher II
engraving, circa 1675-1700
NPG D19924

King James II, after Unknown artist - NPG D18571

King James II

after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1679
NPG D18571

King James II, after Unknown artist - NPG D18572

King James II

after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1679
NPG D18572

The Five Eldest Children of King Charles I, published by Alexander Browne, after  Sir Anthony van Dyck - NPG D11400

The Five Eldest Children of King Charles I

published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, circa 1680-1684 (1637)
NPG D11400

King James II when Duke of York, published by Alexander Browne, after  Sir Peter Lely - NPG D11410

King James II when Duke of York

published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, circa 1680-1684
NPG D11410

King James II, published by Isaac Beckett - NPG D11822

King James II

published by Isaac Beckett
mezzotint, circa 1681-1688
NPG D11822

King James II, by Leonardus Henricus van Otteren, after  Unknown artist - NPG D18566

King James II

by Leonardus Henricus van Otteren, after Unknown artist
line engraving, circa 1684
NPG D18566

King James II when Duke of York, published by Alexander Browne, after  Sir Peter Lely - NPG D18698

King James II when Duke of York

published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, circa 1684
NPG D18698

King James II, by and published by Arnold van Westerhout, after  Unknown artist - NPG D32728

King James II

by and published by Arnold van Westerhout, after Unknown artist
etching and line engraving, 1685
NPG D32728

King James II, published by Henri Bonnart, and published by  Nicoló Billy, after  Unknown artist - NPG D32729

King James II

published by Henri Bonnart, and published by Nicoló Billy, after Unknown artist
etching, circa 1685-1688
NPG D32729

King James II, after Unknown artist - NPG D30783

King James II

after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1685-1688
NPG D30783

King James II, by Pieter Schenck, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D7864

King James II

by Pieter Schenck, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, circa 1685-1688
NPG D7864

King James II, by Pieter Schenck, after  Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG D7865

King James II

by Pieter Schenck, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, circa 1685-1688
NPG D7865

King James II, by Gerard Valck, after  Sir Peter Lely - NPG D7866

King James II

by Gerard Valck, after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, circa 1685-1688
NPG D7866

King James II, by Pieter Schenck, after  Unknown artist - NPG D8429

King James II

by Pieter Schenck, after Unknown artist
mezzotint, circa 1685-1688
NPG D8429

King James II, by Robert Williams, published by  Edward Cooper, after  Willem Wissing - NPG D11959

King James II

by Robert Williams, published by Edward Cooper, after Willem Wissing
mezzotint, circa 1685
NPG D11959

King James II, by Nicolas Arnoult, after  Antoine Dieu - NPG D18574

King James II

by Nicolas Arnoult, after Antoine Dieu
line and stipple engraving, 1685-1688
NPG D18574

King James II, by Nicolas Arnoult, after  Antoine Dieu - NPG D18575

King James II

by Nicolas Arnoult, after Antoine Dieu
line and stipple engraving, 1685-1688
NPG D18575

King James II, after Unknown artist - NPG D18577

King James II

after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1685-1688
NPG D18577

King James II, after Unknown artist - NPG D18582

King James II

after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1685-1688
NPG D18582

King James II, after Unknown artist - NPG D18584

King James II

after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1685-1694
NPG D18584

King James II, after Unknown artist - NPG D18583

King James II

after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1685-1694
NPG D18583

King James II, after Unknown artist - NPG D18587

King James II

after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1685-1688
NPG D18587

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