Prince James Francis Edward Stuart; Princess Louisa Maria Theresa Stuart

Sittersback to top

• Prince James Francis Edward Stuart (1688-1766), Known as 'The Old Pretender'; son of James II. Sitter associated with 59 portraits.
• Princess Louisa Maria Theresa Stuart (1692-1712), Daughter of James II. Sitter associated with 9 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Nicolas de Largillière (1656-1746). Artist associated with 41 portraits, Sitter associated with 3 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Known as 'The Old Pretender', James Stuart was the only surviving son of James II and Mary of Modena. He was secretly conveyed to France when his father abandoned the throne in 1688. On his father's death in 1701 his supporters in exile proclaimed him king of England, and five years later he made the first of several attempts to reclaim the English throne. He was deeply attached to his younger sister Louisa Maria, who was born at the exiled court at St. Germain-en-Laye. James II commissioned this portrait of his children from Largillière when the family was living in exile. The inscription on the urn tells us that James was seven and Louisa three at the time at which it was painted. Both Louisa and the large greyhound that her brother strokes direct the viewer to look at the prince and to acknowledge him as the rightful inheritor of the British throne. The dog is one of the many elements in the portrait which symbolise both the loyalty of Louisa to her brother and of the Jacobins to James II and his son.

Related worksback to top

• NPG D11540: Prince James Francis Edward Stuart (after)
• NPG D11539: Prince James Francis Edward Stuart; Princess Louisa Maria Theresa Stuart (after)
• NPG D34723: Prince James Francis Edward Stuart; Princess Louisa Maria Theresa Stuart (after)

Linked publicationsback to top

• Audio Guide
• I-Spy National Portrait Gallery, 2010, p. 21
• Gibson, Robin, The Face in the Corner: Animal Portraits from the Collections of the National Portrait Gallery, 1998, p. 34
• Kerslake, John, Early Georgian Portraits, 1977, p. 154
• Ribeiro, Aileen, The Gallery of Fashion, 2000, p. 88
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 332

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Children
• Double portraits
• Flowers and plants
• Hats and head-attire
• Pets and animals
• Vases, pots and urns