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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

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