King Charles II
(1630-1685), Reigned 1660-85Sitter associated with 295 portraits
When civil war broke out in 1642, the heir to the throne Prince Charles was only twelve. He courageously engaged in the fighting for the next four years and, on one occasion when advised to retreat, cried 'I fear them not'. He was eventually sent abroad for safety in 1646. His attempt to invade England in 1651 ended in disaster at the Battle of Worcester when he was sheltered by Royalists until he finally escaped back to France. He was restored to the throne in 1660, amid great rejoicing, but with limitations on his powers. He became adept at out-manoeuvring the opposition to his policies, particularly in matters of religion and foreign affairs. The second half of his reign was marked by war with the Dutch after the Royal African Company, which had a monopoly of the Transatlantic slave trade, began to capture Dutch slave-trading posts in 1667. The company was founded by a royal charter issued by Charles in 1672 and was led by his brother, James Duke of York. In 1685, James succeeded as King James II, as although Charles had fathered fourteen children by his mistresses, he had no legitimate heir.
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, (circa 1632)
NPG D16422
probably by William Faithorne, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, late 1630s-1640s
NPG D22816
published by Edward Cooper, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, (1637)
NPG D26448
probably by William Faithorne, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, late 1630s-1640s
NPG D22823
by Pieter de Jode II, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, (1637-1638)
NPG D18446
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, (1637-1638)
NPG D18447
by Cornelis van Dalen, after Unknown artist
line engraving, late 1630s-early 1640s
NPG D18483
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, (1637-1638)
NPG D18485
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, (1638-1641)
NPG D18445
by William Faithorne
line engraving, 1640s
NPG D22694
probably by William Faithorne, published by Sir Robert Peake
line engraving, circa 1640
NPG D22817
probably by William Faithorne
line engraving, circa 1640
NPG D22820
published by Sir Robert Peake, probably after William Faithorne
etching and line engraving, early 1640s
NPG D18481
published by Sir Robert Peake, probably after William Faithorne
etching and line engraving, early 1640s
NPG D18482
after Unknown artist
line and stipple engraving, 1640s
NPG D18486
by Unknown artist
etching, 1640s
NPG D18490
by William Faithorne, after William Dobson
line engraving, circa 1646
NPG D22693
after Adriaen Hanneman
line engraving, (circa 1648)
NPG D18459
after Adriaen Hanneman
line engraving, (circa 1648)
NPG D18460
after Adriaen Hanneman
line engraving, (circa 1648)
NPG D18496
by Wenceslaus Hollar, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
etching, 1649
NPG D18444
after Unknown artist
woodcut, circa 1649
NPG D18448
by Frederik Bouttats the Younger, after Jan van den Hoeck (Hoecke)
line engraving, (1649)
NPG D18449
by Frederik Bouttats the Younger, after Jan van den Hoeck (Hoecke)
line engraving, (1649)
NPG D18450
after Jan van den Hoeck (Hoecke)
line engraving, (1649)
NPG D18451
by Frederik Bouttats the Younger, after Jan van den Hoeck (Hoecke)
line engraving, (1649)
NPG D18452
after Unknown artist
woodcut, circa 1649
NPG D18484
after Unknown artist
line engraving, circa 1649
NPG D18489
after Unknown artist
line engraving, circa 1649
NPG D18488
after Unknown artist
line engraving, circa 1649
NPG D18487
after Jan van den Hoeck (Hoecke)
line engraving, (1649)
NPG D18491
by William Faithorne
line engraving, 1650s
NPG D22685
by William Faithorne
line engraving, 1650s
NPG D22695
Portrait of a young boy formerly catalogued as King Charles II
by and published by Wallerant Vaillant
mezzotint, circa 1650-1675
NPG D30443
by Peter van Lisebetten (Lysebetten, Liesebetten), after Peter van Lint
line engraving, 1650s
NPG D18453
probably after Philippe de Champaigne
line engraving, 1650s
NPG D18454
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1650s
NPG D18455
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1650s-1660s
NPG D18475
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1650s-1660s
NPG D18476
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1650s-1660s
NPG D18477
Related People
- Queen Anne (niece)
- Anne of Denmark (grandmother)
- Princess Anne (sister)
- Hon. Augustus Henry Archibald Anson (grandson)
- James Beauclerk (son)
- Catherine of Braganza (wife)
- King Charles I (father)
- Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond and Lennox (son)
- Charles FitzRoy, Duke of Cleveland (son)
- Mary Radcliffe (née Tudor), Countess of Derwentwater (daughter)
- Princess Elizabeth (sister)
- George Fitzroy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland (son)
- Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton (son)
- Henrietta Anne, Duchess of Orleans (sister)
- Henry, Duke of Gloucester (brother)
- King James I of England and VI of Scotland (grandfather)
- King James II (brother)
- James Scott, Duke of Monmouth and Buccleuch (son)
- Charlotte Lee (née Fitzroy), Countess of Lichfield (daughter)
- Henrietta Maria (mother)
- Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange (sister)
- Charles FitzCharles, Earl of Plymouth (son)
- Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St Albans (son)
- Anne Frederica (née Anson), Countess of Wemyss (granddaughter)
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.