King Charles II

1 portrait of King Charles II

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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King Charles II

by William Faithorne, after William Dobson
line engraving, circa 1646
11 in. x 7 5/8 in. (280 mm x 194 mm) paper size
Given by the daughter of compiler William Fleming MD, Mary Elizabeth Stopford (née Fleming), 1931
Reference Collection
NPG D22693

Sitterback to top

  • King Charles II (1630-1685), Reigned 1660-85. Sitter associated with 295 portraits.

Artistsback to top

  • William Dobson (1611-1646), Portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 50 portraits, Sitter in 9 portraits.
  • William Faithorne (circa 1620-1691), Engraver and draughtsman. Artist or producer associated with 720 portraits, Sitter associated with 4 portraits.

This portraitback to top

The source for this print was an oil portrait painted to commemorate the Prince of Wales's participation at the Battle of Edgehill on 23 October 1642. The print is one of three Dobson portraits to be engraved by Faithorne and published by Thomas Rowlett (1621-52). They were probably produced in the period between Dobson's return to London following the fall of Oxford in June 1646 and his death the following October. The short-lived partnership was an instance of Royalists attempting to earn a living in the wake of finding themselves on the losing side in the Civil War.

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Events of 1646back to top

Current affairs

First civil war ends. Under Thomas Fairfax, Commander-in-Chief, Parliamentarians defeat Royalist armies in the last major conflicts of the war, the Battles of Torrington and Stow-on-the-Wold. The subsequent fall of Royalist Oxford forces Charles I to flee and he surrenders himself to the Scots at Newark.

Art and science

Portrait painter, William Dobson, returns to London after the defeat of the king and is briefly imprisoned for debt. He dies in poverty aged thirty-five.

International

Instructed by Charles I, James Butler, Marquess of Ormonde resumes negotiations with the Irish Confederates attempting to raise troops for the royalist cause. The resulting First Ormonde Peace, though publicly proclaimed, is eventually rejected by the Confederates on account of papal ambassador, Archbishop Rinuccini's considerable influence.

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