Oliver Cromwell

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Oliver Cromwell

after Thomas Simon
electrotype of medal, 1885, based on a work of 1650
1 1/4 in. x 1 1/8 in. (32 mm x 29 mm) oval
Given by Herbert Appold Grueber, 1885
Primary Collection
NPG 747

Sitterback to top

  • Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), Lord Protector of England. Sitter associated with 224 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Thomas Simon (1618-1665), Engraver. Artist or producer associated with 24 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG 4365: Oliver Cromwell ('The Dunbar Medal') (source portrait)

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Piper, David, Catalogue of Seventeenth Century Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery, 1625-1714, 1963, p. 97
  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 155

Events of 1650back to top

Current affairs

Exiled Charles, Prince of Wales, holds negotiations in the Netherlands, with the Scottish Parliament to secure an alliance. Despite misgivings on both sides, and pressure from the Scots for Charles to sign the covenants, the treaty of Breda is agreed.
Oliver Cromwell defeats the Scots at the Battle of Dunbar.

Art and science

Poet and politician, Andrew Marvell, composes his greatest political poem, Horatian Ode upon Cromwell's Return from Ireland. Marvell become Oliver Cromwell's unofficial poet laureate during the Protectorate.

International

William, The Prince of Orange, grandson of Charles I, is born assuming the title from the moment of birth. Forty years later, he would become William III of England.
General-at-Sea, Robert Blake is dispatched to Portugal to prevent attacks on Commonwealth merchant shipping from royalist, Prince Rupert, based in Lisbon.

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