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.
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1660s-1670s
NPG D18573
The Great Seal for King James II when Duke of York with heads of King Charles II and King James II
by Thomas Simon
line engraving, 1665
NPG D18588
sold by John Clark
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D29269
by Robert Williams, after Samuel Cooper, published by Edward Cooper
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D29401
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D30785
by and published by Johannes Willemsz ('Jan') van Munnickhuysen, after Unknown artist
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D30799
by Robert White
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D30801
by and published by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D31060
by Robert White, printed and sold by John King
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D10653
by George Vertue, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D30786
by Wenceslaus Hollar
etching, circa 1670
NPG D18564
after Adriaen van der Werff
line and stipple engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18576
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
etching, late 17th century
NPG D18578
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18579
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D18580
by Robert White, published by John Overton
line engraving, circa 1675-1700
NPG D19485
published by Nicolaes Visscher II
engraving, circa 1675-1700
NPG D19924
after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1679
NPG D18571
after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1679
NPG D18572
The Five Eldest Children of King Charles I
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, circa 1680-1684 (1637)
NPG D11400
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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