Henry Marten (Martin)
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Henry Marten (Martin)
by Sir Peter Lely
oil on canvas, feigned oval, 1650s
29 1/4 in. x 24 1/4 in. (743 mm x 616 mm)
Purchased, 1978
Primary Collection
NPG 5176
Sitterback to top
- Henry Marten (Martin) (1601 or 1602-1680), Lawyer, regicide and politician; MP for Berkshire. Sitter associated with 4 portraits.
Artistback to top
- Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680), Portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 844 portraits, Sitter in 19 portraits.
This portraitback to top
The inscription 'now' was probably added at a later date and may refer to his support for the King's execution.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 413
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.
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.