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Oliver Cromwell

(1599-1658), Lord Protector of England

Early Stuart Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter associated with 224 portraits
A country gentleman who became a soldier, statesman and finally Lord Protector of Great Britain. As MP for Huntingdon and then Cambridge, Cromwell was an outspoken critic of King Charles I. His military skills and God-fearing tenacity were decisive factors in the Parliamentarian victory in the Civil Wars, and he was prominent among those who first treated with, and then executed the King in 1649. He achieved military success in Ireland in 1649, where he carried out brutal massacres. He led the New Model Army to victory against the Scots and the future King Charles II in 1651. Emerging as a head of state when the 'Rump' Parliament was dissolved in 1653, he was created Lord Protector. During this time, he pursued an aggressive anti-Spanish foreign policy, failing to take Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic) but succeeding in taking Jamaica from Spain. This would become the foremost of Britain’s slave colonies. Cromwell refused the crown in 1657, dying in 1658.

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Oliver Cromwell, by George Vertue, after  Samuel Cooper - NPG D16587

Oliver Cromwell

by George Vertue, after Samuel Cooper
line engraving, published 1732
NPG D16587

Oliver Cromwell, by George Vertue, after  Samuel Cooper - NPG D16588

Oliver Cromwell

by George Vertue, after Samuel Cooper
line engraving, published 1732
NPG D16588

Oliver Cromwell, by George Vertue, after  Samuel Cooper - NPG D16589

Oliver Cromwell

by George Vertue, after Samuel Cooper
line engraving, published 1732
NPG D16589

Oliver Cromwell, by George Vertue, after  Samuel Cooper - NPG D16590

Oliver Cromwell

by George Vertue, after Samuel Cooper
line engraving, published 1732
NPG D16590

Oliver Cromwell, by Robert Sheppard, after  Samuel Cooper - NPG D28720

Oliver Cromwell

by Robert Sheppard, after Samuel Cooper
line engraving, published 1733
NPG D28720

Oliver Cromwell, by Robert Sheppard, after  Samuel Cooper - NPG D19128

Oliver Cromwell

by Robert Sheppard, after Samuel Cooper
line engraving, published 1733
NPG D19128

Oliver Cromwell; John Lambert, by Andrew Miller, sold by  Michael Ford, after  Robert Walker - NPG D32974

Oliver Cromwell; John Lambert

by Andrew Miller, sold by Michael Ford, after Robert Walker
mezzotint, 1745
NPG D32974

Oliver Cromwell, by John Faber Jr, after  Sir Peter Lely - NPG D28660

Oliver Cromwell

by John Faber Jr, after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, 1750
NPG D28660

Oliver Cromwell, by John Faber Jr, after  Sir Peter Lely - NPG D34324

Oliver Cromwell

by John Faber Jr, after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, 1750 (1653)
NPG D34324

Oliver Cromwell, published by John Bowles, after  Sir Peter Lely, after  Samuel Cooper - NPG D19231

Oliver Cromwell

published by John Bowles, after Sir Peter Lely, after Samuel Cooper
mezzotint, published circa 1750-1775
NPG D19231

Oliver Cromwell, by and published by John Faber Jr, after  Sir Peter Lely - NPG D19253

Oliver Cromwell

by and published by John Faber Jr, after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, 1750 (1653)
NPG D19253

Oliver Cromwell, after Samuel Cooper - NPG D16562

Oliver Cromwell

after Samuel Cooper
etching, published 1750
NPG D16562

Oliver Cromwell, by Robert Pranker, after  Robert Pyle - NPG D16564

Oliver Cromwell

by Robert Pranker, after Robert Pyle
etching, 1760s?
NPG D16564

Oliver Cromwell, after Sir Peter Lely - NPG D1593

Oliver Cromwell

after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, late 18th century
NPG D1593

English Medals, after Unknown artist - NPG D28618

English Medals

after Unknown artist
etching, possibly late 18th century
NPG D28618

Oliver Cromwell, after Sir Peter Lely, published by  Carington Bowles - NPG D28658

Oliver Cromwell

after Sir Peter Lely, published by Carington Bowles
mezzotint, late 18th century
NPG D28658

Cromwell dissolving the Long Parliament, by Burnet Reading - NPG D28669

Cromwell dissolving the Long Parliament

by Burnet Reading
line engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D28669

The Emigration of Cromwell Prevented, after Unknown artist - NPG D28688

The Emigration of Cromwell Prevented

after Unknown artist
line and stipple engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D28688

Oliver Cromwell, after Unknown artist - NPG D28690

Oliver Cromwell

after Unknown artist
etching, possibly late 18th century
NPG D28690

Oliver Cromwell, by John Keyse Sherwin - NPG D28692

Oliver Cromwell

by John Keyse Sherwin
stipple engraving, late 18th century
NPG D28692

Oliver Cromwell, after Unknown artist - NPG D28693

Oliver Cromwell

after Unknown artist
line engraving, late 18th century
NPG D28693

Oliver Cromwell, by Charles Warren, after  Sir Peter Lely - NPG D28708

Oliver Cromwell

by Charles Warren, after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D28708

Oliver Cromwell, after Unknown artist - NPG D28709

Oliver Cromwell

after Unknown artist
etching and line engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D28709

Oliver Cromwell, by James Bretherton, after  Samuel Cooper - NPG D28712

Oliver Cromwell

by James Bretherton, after Samuel Cooper
etching, late 18th century
NPG D28712

Oliver Cromwell, after Sir Peter Lely, published by  John Thane - NPG D28713

Oliver Cromwell

after Sir Peter Lely, published by John Thane
etching, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D28713

Oliver Cromwell, by Tim Bob, after  Samuel Cooper - NPG D28723

Oliver Cromwell

by Tim Bob, after Samuel Cooper
etching, 1770
NPG D28723

Oliver Cromwell, after Samuel Cooper - NPG D28726

Oliver Cromwell

after Samuel Cooper
line engraving, late 18th century
NPG D28726

Oliver Cromwell, by Thomas Cook, after  Samuel Cooper - NPG D28727

Oliver Cromwell

by Thomas Cook, after Samuel Cooper
line engraving, late 18th century
NPG D28727

Oliver Cromwell, after Samuel Cooper - NPG D28728

Oliver Cromwell

after Samuel Cooper
etching, late 18th century
NPG D28728

Oliver Cromwell, after Samuel Cooper - NPG D28730

Oliver Cromwell

after Samuel Cooper
etching, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D28730

Sir Philip Warwick and Oliver Cromwell, after Unknown artist - NPG D30196

Sir Philip Warwick and Oliver Cromwell

after Unknown artist
line engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D30196

Oliver Cromwell, by D.P. Pariset, after  Samuel Cooper - NPG D28714

Oliver Cromwell

by D.P. Pariset, after Samuel Cooper
stipple engraving, published 1771
NPG D28714

Oliver Cromwell, by D.P. Pariset, published by  T. Bradford, after  Samuel Cooper - NPG D19145

Oliver Cromwell

by D.P. Pariset, published by T. Bradford, after Samuel Cooper
stipple engraving, published 7 May 1771
NPG D19145

Oliver Cromwell, published by Carington Bowles, after  Sir Peter Lely - NPG D19146

Oliver Cromwell

published by Carington Bowles, after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, published circa 1775-1793
NPG D19146

'Malagrida and conspirators, consulting the ghost of Oliver Cromwell', by James Gillray, published by  Elizabeth d'Achery - NPG D12323

'Malagrida and conspirators, consulting the ghost of Oliver Cromwell'

by James Gillray, published by Elizabeth d'Achery
hand-coloured etching, published June 1782
NPG D12323

Oliver Cromwell, by Barak Longmate - NPG D28703

Oliver Cromwell

by Barak Longmate
etching and line engraving, published 1787
NPG D28703

Oliver Cromwell dissolving the Long Parliament, by John Hall, after  Benjamin West - NPG D34360

Oliver Cromwell dissolving the Long Parliament

by John Hall, after Benjamin West
line engraving, published 1789 (1783)
NPG D34360

'A Connoisseur examining a Cooper' (Oliver Cromwell (in portrait); King George III), by James Gillray, published by  Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12459

'A Connoisseur examining a Cooper' (Oliver Cromwell (in portrait); King George III)

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured stipple engraving, published 18 June 1792
NPG D12459

Oliver Cromwell, by Robert Hartley Cromek, after  Jacobus Houbraken - NPG D28665

Oliver Cromwell

by Robert Hartley Cromek, after Jacobus Houbraken
line engraving, published 1794
NPG D28665

Oliver Cromwell, by Thomas Milton, published by  Thomas Cadell the Elder - NPG D28716

Oliver Cromwell

by Thomas Milton, published by Thomas Cadell the Elder
line engraving, published 1794
NPG D28716

Oliver Cromwell, by Edward Harding, published by  Isaac Herbert, after  Sir Peter Lely - NPG D28718

Oliver Cromwell

by Edward Harding, published by Isaac Herbert, after Sir Peter Lely
stipple engraving, published 1794
NPG D28718

Oliver Cromwell, by Robert Hartley Cromek, after  Samuel Cooper - NPG D28722

Oliver Cromwell

by Robert Hartley Cromek, after Samuel Cooper
line engraving, published 1794
NPG D28722

Oliver Cromwell, by T. Woodman, and by  Henry Mutlow, after  Samuel Cooper - NPG D34325

Oliver Cromwell

by T. Woodman, and by Henry Mutlow, after Samuel Cooper
line engraving, published 19 May 1794
NPG D34325

Oliver Cromwell, by Jagger, after  Samuel Cooper, published by  Robert Bowyer - NPG D28721

Oliver Cromwell

by Jagger, after Samuel Cooper, published by Robert Bowyer
line engraving, published 1796
NPG D28721

Oliver Cromwell, by G. Scott, published by  Edward Harding, after  Sir Peter Lely - NPG D28717

Oliver Cromwell

by G. Scott, published by Edward Harding, after Sir Peter Lely
stipple engraving, published 1798
NPG D28717

Oliver Cromwell, by Charles Turner, after  William Faithorne, published by  Samuel Woodburn - NPG D28677

Oliver Cromwell

by Charles Turner, after William Faithorne, published by Samuel Woodburn
mezzotint, early 19th century
NPG D28677

Oliver Cromwell, after William Faithorne - NPG D28679

Oliver Cromwell

after William Faithorne
etching and stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D28679

Oliver Cromwell, after William Faithorne - NPG D28680

Oliver Cromwell

after William Faithorne
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D28680

Oliver Cromwell, by Edward A. Smith, after  Louis François Decaisne - NPG D28689

Oliver Cromwell

by Edward A. Smith, after Louis François Decaisne
line engraving, early 19th century
NPG D28689

Oliver Cromwell, by Burnet Reading - NPG D28698

Oliver Cromwell

by Burnet Reading
line engraving, early 19th century
NPG D28698

Oliver Cromwell, by Louis Pierre Henriquel-Dupont, after  Paul Delaroche - NPG D28700

Oliver Cromwell

by Louis Pierre Henriquel-Dupont, after Paul Delaroche
aquatint, early 19th century
NPG D28700

Oliver Cromwell, after Unknown artist - NPG D28710

Oliver Cromwell

after Unknown artist
ink and wash, early 19th century
NPG D28710

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Laurie Pettitt

15 March 2017, 18:05

The English Civil war, or the Wars of the Three Kingdoms is pretty unique in History.
The 'Losers' got to write the History. The winners were purged from records as far away as Massachusetts. The Guild Book of Berwick Upon Tweed was re-written in 1670 and now there are great chunks missing from it. Letters that you hope you might be able to see in Westminster; gone. The first real investigations into Cromwell were in the 19th Century. Most of the things before that had been written under Patronage and the Patrons had Patrons who would determine what could be written.
I'm adding this because every story you read or hear needs careful investigation. Even now, stories which have been regarded as History are being found to be untrue. So I say to you: "Now go away and proves me wrong (PLEASE)..

Laurie Pettitt

03 March 2017, 20:35

Brutality was the order of the day for all Armies in the World in the 17th Century.
Cromwell was born into the World of the 'Star Chamber' in England (Archbishop Laud ran it and got rather good at extracting truths) and the Inquisition in most parts of Europe. His counterpart and one time Ally in Scotland, Sir David Leslie had been told by the Clergy that 'It was acceptable to offer terms, accept surrender, disarm the enemy and slaughter them' (Buchan's 'Montrose).
What might have happened if Drogheda or Wexford had accepted the original terms.
The Garrison to march away. The Citizen's property saved from Plunder. Priests could march out with the Army but not tolerated in the Towns. Why? They were the cheerleaders, edging people on to further cruelty. Edingurgh Castle succumbed to terms. Garrison and people allowed to walk away. Property within the castle to remain the property of the original owners. (24th December 1650). Cromwell was an honourable man. His first orders to George Monck in Edinburgh were "Restore Order. Get people back into the Churches. Get people trading freely." Governor Simnett of Wexford thought himself a 'wag' when he handed Cromwell a list of demands and it cost him dearly.
So.... What did Cromwell do for us? There was a thing called The Instrument of State, described by Thomas Wentworth as an Arch. There were the Commons, (1 pillar) The lords, Pillar 2 and the King holding the two pillars together. The Rebublicans wanted the arch to be demolished. The Commons of 1653 wanted total power. No balancing 'Lords or Council of State' No king or Ruler. Then, to be the sole judiciary in the Land. Control of the Courts, the Army and Navy and all legislation.
People say that Cromwell's action in throwing those people out was 'Undemocratic.
Cromwell's enemy, Edward Hyde, the Earl of Clarendon said thyat if Cromwell had not done what he did, it would have taken ten times the blood to remove them than it did the King.
A few things that any of 'Their Majesties might consider'.
1: Cromwell kept the constitutional instrument of state together.
2: Cromwell and Ireton dealt honestly with the King until he proved too perfidious.
3: In his power, Cromwell could have reached out and purged the house of Stuart but he didn't.
4: Cromwell's secret weapon, George Monck. When things started to fall apart in England, from an inpenetrable base in Scotland, Monck marched down to London and did what Cromwell ordered. Restore Order.
So much has been written about Cromwell, much of it based on stories told in the two hundred years after his death. If you were writing under Patronage, you wrote what the Patron wanted to hear. Even now, new History is replacing old Stories and how the purveyors of those old Stories, who have based their Careers on the stories, kick up a fuss.