Nell Gwyn
(1651?-1687), Actress; mistress of Charles IIEleanor ('Nell') Gwyn
Sitter associated with 31 portraits
Eleanor Gywn, or 'Pretty witty Nell', as Pepys called her, came to London as an orange-seller, and rose to become one of the leading comic actresses of the day, and mistress to the King, Charles II. The playwright Dryden supplied her with a series of saucy, bustling parts, ideally suited to her talents. She had two sons by the King, and the elder, Charles Beauclerk, was created Duke of St Albans. She was said to have been remembered by Charles on his deathbed with the words 'Let not poor Nelly starve'.
by Schenecker, published by John White, published by John Scott, after Sir Peter Lely
stipple engraving, published 1 July 1808
NPG D30622
by Richard Earlom, published by Samuel Woodburn, after Samuel Cooper
mezzotint, published 1810
NPG D2514
by Richard Earlom, published by Samuel Woodburn, after Samuel Cooper
mezzotint, published 1810
NPG D2544
by Richard Earlom, after Samuel Cooper
mezzotint, published 1810
NPG D2545
by Richard Earlom, published by Samuel Woodburn, after Samuel Cooper
mezzotint, published 1810
NPG D2546
'Legend of Chelsea Hospital' (King Charles II; Nell Gwyn)
published by Joseph Hogarth, after Unknown artist
stipple engraving, published 1845
NPG D29271
by Henry T. Greenhead, after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, before 16 June 1913
NPG D35092
by Unknown artist
colour offset lithograph, 1950s
NPG D47479
by and published by Gerard Valck, after Samuel Cooper
line engraving, circa 1700-1725
NPG D19832
published by Samuel William Fores
stipple engraving, published 7 May 1786
NPG D19680
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