King James II
(1633-1701), Reigned 1685-88Later Stuart Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 134 portraits
James II became king in 1685 as his brother Charles II left no legitimate heir. Before inheriting the throne, James took an active role in politics. He championed English commercial interests, becoming governor of the Royal Fisheries Company and the Royal Africa Company which had a monopoly over the trade in enslaved Africans across the Atlantic. A convert to Roman Catholicism ruling a largely Protestant population, he advocated greater tolerance towards Catholics in his Declaration of Indulgence of 1687. When the Archbishop of Canterbury and six bishops requested he reconsider, they were arrested. In 1688, a group of Protestant nobles asked William, Prince of Orange to come to England with an army. James fled to France, where he lived in exile for the rest of his life, while William of Orange and his wife Mary, James's Protestant daughter, reigned in Britain.
Five Children of King Charles I
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, 17th century, based on a work of 1637
NPG 267
by Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
oil on panel, 1639
NPG 5104
Anne Hyde, Duchess of York; King James II
by Sir Peter Lely
oil on canvas, circa 1661-1662
NPG 5077
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, 1684
NPG 666
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
watercolour on vellum on card, based on a work of 1684
NPG 6277
by Unknown artist
terracotta bust, 1685-1688
NPG 5869
by Unknown artist
oil on canvas, circa 1690
NPG 366
'The Kings and Queens of England: From the Conquest to Queen Victoria'
by Henry Hering
albumen carte-de-visite photomontage, 1862
NPG Ax131392
after Unknown artist
line engraving, mid 17th century
NPG D29311
probably by William Faithorne, after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
line engraving, late 1630s-1640s
NPG D22819
published by Edward Cooper, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, (1637)
NPG D26448
by Unknown artist
etching, late 1630s
NPG D18563
by William Faithorne
line engraving, 1640s-1650s
NPG D22794
after Sir Peter Lely
line engraving and etching, 1650s?
NPG D18565
after Charles Wautier (Wautiers, Woutiers)
line engraving, 1650s?
NPG D18567
by Pieter de Jode II, after Charles Wautier (Wautiers, Woutiers)
line engraving, 1650s?
NPG D18568
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1650s-1660s
NPG D18570
after Charles Wautier (Wautiers, Woutiers)
line engraving, 1650s?
NPG D18569
Royall History Compleated 1660
by Unknown artist
line engraving, published circa 1660
NPG D22745
Related People
- Queen Anne (daughter)
- Anne of Denmark (grandmother)
- Princess Anne (sister)
- Anne Hyde, Duchess of York (wife)
- James Fitzjames, Duke of Berwick upon Tweed (son)
- King Charles I (father)
- King Charles II (brother)
- Prince Charles Edward Stuart (grandson)
- Lady Catherine Darnley (daughter)
- Princess Elizabeth (sister)
- Henry, Duke of Gloucester (brother)
- Isabella Stuart (daughter)
- King James I of England and VI of Scotland (grandfather)
- James Scott, Duke of Monmouth and Buccleuch (nephew)
- Prince James Francis Edward Stuart (son)
- Princess Louisa Maria Theresa Stuart (daughter)
- Henrietta Maria (mother)
- Queen Mary II (daughter)
- Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange (sister)
- Mary of Modena (wife)
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