King William III

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King William III

published by Richard Tompson, after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, 1678-1679
13 3/8 in. x 9 7/8 in. (340 mm x 250 mm) plate size, small margins
Given by the daughter of compiler William Fleming MD, Mary Elizabeth Stopford (née Fleming), 1931
Reference Collection
NPG D29332

Sitterback to top

  • King William III (1650-1702), Reigned 1689-1702. Sitter associated with 142 portraits.

Artistsback to top

  • Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680), Portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 843 portraits, Sitter in 19 portraits.
  • Richard Tompson (died 1693), Publisher, printseller, auctioneer and dealer. Artist or producer associated with 116 portraits, Sitter in 2 portraits.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG 371: Thomas Butler, Earl of Ossory (variant version)
  • NPG 1902: King William III (source portrait)
  • NPG D11412: King William III (from same plate)
  • NPG D20387: King William III (from same plate)

Events of 1678back to top

Current affairs

Informer, Titus Oates, concocts the Popish Plot, an elaborate tale of a Catholic conspiracy to murder the king, enthrone James, Duke of York and catholicize England. The story provokes panic and persecution of Catholics.
Extension of the Test Act (1673) excludes Catholics from both the House of Lords and Parliament.

Art and science

While imprisoned under the Conventicle Act, author John Bunyan, writes the first part of Pilgrims Progress, considered to be one of the most important religious works in the English language.
Poet laureate, John Dryden, publishes All for Love, an adaptation of William Shakespeare's Anthony and Cleopatra.

International

Last major conflict of the Franco-Dutch war, battle of St. Denis, is fiercely fought despite a peace treaty signed days earlier between the two countries. Prince William of Orange, leading Dutch forces, fights alongside his confidant, Hans Willem Bentinck, and an English force, under James Scott, Duke of Monmouth.

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