King Charles I
(1600-1649), Reigned 1625-49Sitter associated with 335 portraits
The younger, surviving son of James I and Anne of Denmark, Charles became heir to the throne on the death of his brother Henry in 1612. Charles inherited his father's belief in the 'Divine Right of Kings' and became the greatest of all British royal art patrons and collectors. His dismissal of Parliament and personal rule, however, along with his imposition of taxes and attempts to impose religious uniformity led eventually to civil war. He was defeated and tried on the charge that he 'traitorously and maliciously levied war against the present Parliament and the people therein represented', and he was executed outside the Banqueting House, Whitehall, on 30 January 1649.
probably after Richard Gaywood
etching, (1660)
NPG D18315
by Abraham Hertochs (Hertocks), after Philip Fruytiers
line engraving, 1662
NPG D21547
King Charles I in the title to ''The Works of Charles I''
by Abraham Hertochs (Hertocks)
line engraving, 1662
NPG D26331
King Charles I and his adherents
published by Samuel Speed, after Sir Anthony van Dyck, and after Unknown artists
line engraving, published circa 1663-1669
NPG D22673
The Frontispiece to Winstanley's ''Loyall Martyrology'', 1665
after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1665
NPG D26783
by Isaac Beckett, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D26300
by Robert White, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D26313
by John Smith
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D26334
by Richard Gaywood
etching, late 17th century
NPG D26340
after Unknown artist
line engraving, possibly late 17th to early 18th century
NPG D26357
after Unknown artist
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D26360
by Étienne Jehandier Desrochers
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D26383
Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron, Oliver Cromwell and King Charles I
after Unknown artist
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D27124
by James Clark
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D29277
Fictitious portrait called King Charles I
by Unknown artist
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18221
by Robert White, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D10623
probably by Johann Ulrich Kraus, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18226
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, probably late 17th century
NPG D18209
King Charles I; Henrietta Maria
by Unknown artist
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18211
by William Sherwin
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18272
by Unknown artist
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18297
by Robert White, after Unknown artist
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18312
published by Jean or Johannes de Ram, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18320
by William Faithorne, published by John Overton, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1673
NPG D22676
King Charles I; King Charles II
printed and sold by Thomas Bakewell, printed and sold by Timothy Jordan, sold by Thomas Taylor, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, published 1680s-1690s (circa 1632-1699)
NPG D32115
King Charles I; King Charles II
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, published 1680s-1690s (circa 1632-1699)
NPG D32116
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, circa 1680-1684
NPG D11406
by Isaac Beckett, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, 1681-1688
NPG D7879
by Isaac Beckett, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, 1681-1688
NPG D7880
by Isaac Beckett, published by John Smith, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, 1681-1688
NPG D11518
published by John Smith, after Unknown artist
mezzotint, circa 1683-1729
NPG D31957
sold by John Smith
mezzotint, circa 1683-1729
NPG D9491
published by John Smith, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, circa 1683-1729
NPG D11914
published by John Smith
mezzotint, circa 1683-1729
NPG D11909
published by John Smith
mezzotint, circa 1683-1729
NPG D11874
after Unknown artist
woodcut, published 1684
NPG D23930
King Charles I; King Charles II
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, circa 1684 (circa 1632)
NPG D11399
by Robert White, printed and sold by John King, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 1685 (1636)
NPG D26318
possibly published by John Smith, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, circa 1687-1724
NPG D11911
by William Faithorne Jr, published by Edward Cooper
mezzotint, circa 1690s
NPG D30993
by Benoit Audran the Elder, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 1697
NPG D26335
by Benoit Audran the Elder, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1697
NPG D20197
King James I of England and VI of Scotland, King Charles I and King Charles II
after Unknown artist
line engraving, probably 18th century
NPG D25717
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 18th century
NPG D31966
by Pieter Stevens van Gunst, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, early 18th century
NPG D26305
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 18th century
NPG D26348
after Unknown artist
stipple and line engraving, 18th century
NPG D26358
King Charles I and Henrietta Maria
by George Vertue
line engraving, early to mid 18th century
NPG D26445
by John Faber Jr, after Edward Bower
mezzotint, early 18th century (1649)
NPG D10628
by John Faber Jr, printed and sold by Thomas Bowles Sr, after Edward Bower
mezzotint, early 18th century (1649)
NPG D10629
King Charles I and his Supporters
by Joseph Nutting
line engraving, early 18th century
NPG D10634
by John Faber Jr, printed and sold by Thomas Bowles Sr, after Edward Bower
mezzotint, early 18th century (1649)
NPG D1304
by Michael Vandergucht, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, early 18th century
NPG D18274
by Michael Vandergucht, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, early 18th century
NPG D18275
by Unknown artist
line engraving, early 18th century
NPG D18280
King Charles I and his Supporters
by Unknown artist
line engraving, 18th century
NPG D18319
King Charles I and his supporters
by Unknown artist
line engraving, early 18th century
NPG D19078
by Michael Vandergucht, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1706
NPG D21342
by Michael Vandergucht, after Edward Lutterell (Luttrell), after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 1706
NPG D26316
by Michael Vandergucht, after Edward Lutterell (Luttrell), after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 1706
NPG D18276
Related People
- Anne of Denmark (mother)
- Princess Anne (daughter)
- King Charles II (son)
- Prince Charles (son)
- Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (grandfather)
- Princess Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia and Electress Palatine (sister)
- Princess Elizabeth (daughter)
- Henrietta Anne, Duchess of Orleans (daughter)
- Henry, Prince of Wales (brother)
- Henry, Duke of Gloucester (son)
- Isabella Stuart (granddaughter)
- King James I of England and VI of Scotland (father)
- King James II (son)
- Prince James Francis Edward Stuart (grandson)
- Princess Louisa Maria Theresa Stuart (granddaughter)
- Henrietta Maria (wife)
- Mary, Queen of Scots (grandmother)
- Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange (daughter)
- Prince Rupert, Count Palatine (nephew)
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Laurie Pettitt
03 March 2017, 22:12
The trial of Charles I was unique. There was not the mechanism to try a King.
The High Court of Justice was formed and procedures set up to deal openly with the King.
He refused to plead. But Parliament did not use 'Pressing' (A door is placed on top of the prisoner and weights applied until he either pleads or expires)
Imagine if a Motor car had appeared in the streets of 17th Century London. In order to stop it causing mayhem, it would be necessary to make laws, hitherto unknown to safeguard the Public.
Charles was one of the men who thought they could treat Cromwell as a cuckold.
My summing up is 'A silly little man. With a silly little shrew of a Queen and a silly little Bishop. What made him silly? Signing the death warrant on Strafford. He woulod have saved us a lot of pain and blood if he had shared the block with Strafford.