Prince Charles Edward Stuart

Sitterback to top

• Prince Charles Edward Stuart (1720-1788), Grandson of James II; 'Bonnie Prince Charlie'. Sitter associated with 43 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Antonio David (1698-1750). Artist associated with 6 portraits.

This portraitback to top

'Bonnie Prince Charlie', the grandson of James II, was born and educated in Rome. His father, the son of James and his second wife Mary of Modena, had been prevented from acceding to the throne by a group of powerful nobleman who preserved the Protestant succession by offering the crown to Prince William of Orange, later William III. Father and son in turn led their Catholic supporters, the 'Jacobites', and were respectively known as the 'Old Pretender' and the 'Young Pretender'. Prince Charlie's attempted invasion of 1744 was foiled by the English fleet at Dunkirk. A year later he landed in the Hebrides, entered Edinburgh, reached Derby but retreated and was crushed by the Duke of Cumberland at Culloden in 1746. He eventually escaped to France with the help of Flora McDonald. This portrait shows him at about nine years old and is one of a series painted over the years in Rome for his father.

Related worksback to top

• NPG 435: Henry Benedict Maria Clement Stuart, Cardinal York (companion portrait)

Linked publicationsback to top

• Kerslake, John, Early Georgian Portraits, 1977, p. 38
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 118

Subject/Themeback to top

• Beningbrough Hall