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.
by Frederick Hendrik van Hove, after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1685-1688
NPG D18589
by and published by Isaac Beckett, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, circa 1686
NPG D30781
by and published by Isaac Beckett, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, circa 1686
NPG D30784
by John Smith, published by Alexander Browne, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, 1686
NPG D10651
by John Smith, published by Alexander Browne, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, 1686
NPG D10649
by John Smith, published by Alexander Browne, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, 1686
NPG D10650
by John Smith, published by Alexander Browne, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, 1686
NPG D10652
by John Smith, published by Alexander Browne, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, 1686
NPG D11522
by Isaac Beckett, published by John Smith, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, 1686
NPG D11916
by John Smith, published by Alexander Browne, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, 1686
NPG D12000
by John Smith, published by Alexander Browne, after Nicolas de Largillière
mezzotint, 1686
NPG D18743
by George Vertue, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, (1688)
NPG D30782
by George Vertue, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
engraving, (1688)
NPG D16728
by George Vertue, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
engraving, (1688)
NPG D16729
by George Vertue, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
engraving, (1688)
NPG D16727
by Cornelius Nicolas Schurtz, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1689
NPG D18581
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1689 or after
NPG D18585
by Nicolas Arnoult, after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1689 or after
NPG D18586
by Jean Audran, after Adriaen van der Werff
line engraving, published 1697
NPG D30800
King James II when Duke of York and Lord High Admiral
by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1697
NPG D11515
by Robert White, after Unknown artist, published by Samuel Lowndes
line engraving, circa 1700
NPG D31089
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 18th century
NPG D10646
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 18th century
NPG D10645
after Unknown artist
mezzotint, after 1701
NPG D7867
published by John Cooper, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, circa 1703
NPG D30780
by and published by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1703
NPG D11521
by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1703
NPG D7868
by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1703
NPG D7869
by Michael Vandergucht, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1706
NPG D30797
by Michael Vandergucht, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, circa 1706
NPG D30798
by Unknown engraver, sold by Charles Price, after Sir Anthony van Dyck, and after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
engraving, after 1713
NPG D19756
published by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1718
NPG D11918
by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1718
NPG D7870
by George Vertue
etching and line engraving, circa 1720-1750
NPG D48202
The Sovereigns of England, part 2
by John Carwitham, printed and published by Richard Caldwell, after Unknown artist
mezzotint, circa 1723-1741
NPG D34142
by Sir Robert Strange, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 18th century (1635)
NPG D26447
English Medals including King Charles II, Catherine of Braganza and King James II
by Charles Hall
etching, mid 18th century
NPG D29266
by George Vertue, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving and etching, published 1730s (1688)
NPG D32727
by Robert Sheppard, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1732
NPG D7987
by Robert Sheppard, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1732
NPG D7988
by Robert Sheppard, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1732
NPG D19079
Three Eldest Children of Charles I
by Sir Robert Strange, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 1750s-1780s (1635)
NPG D32118
Three Eldest Children of Charles I
by Richard Purcell (H. Fowler, Charles or Philip Corbutt), after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, mid 18th century (1635)
NPG D9088
Five Children of King Charles I
by Richard Cooper, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 1762 (1637)
NPG D32119
after Samuel Woodforde
line engraving, late 18th to early 19th century
NPG D26374
Oliver Cromwell and Charles II with their supporters
printed by H. Reynell
woodcut, late 18th or early 19th century
NPG D32633
by John Goldar, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 25 August 1787 (1688)
NPG D16731
by John Goldar, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 25 August 1787 (1688)
NPG D16730
'Charles I taking leave of his family after being sentenced to loose his head by the Parliament'
published by William and James Stratford, after Unknown artist
etching, published 6 October 1792
NPG D33427
by William Nelson Gardiner, after Sir Peter Lely, published by E. & S. Harding
stipple engraving, published 1793
NPG D29309
published by William Richardson, after Matthäus Merian the Elder
line engraving, published 1800
NPG D26423
after Unknown artist
line engraving, possibly early 19th century
NPG D26426
by Robert Cooper, published by Charles Baldwyn, published by Henry Baldwyn, after Simon Luttichuys
stipple engraving, early 19th century
NPG D29310
after Matthäus Merian the Elder
line engraving, published 1800 (late 1630s)
NPG D18562
by John Chapman, published by John Wilkes
stipple engraving printed in colours, published 1 July 1804
NPG D10647
by John Chapman, published by John Wilkes
stipple engraving printed in colours, published 1 July 1804
NPG D10648
by Edward A. Smith, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1822
NPG D26424
by Henry Bone, after Sir Peter Lely
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, April 1831
NPG D17191
Three Eldest Children of Charles I
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
photogravure, late 19th or early 20th century (1635)
NPG D32117
after Francis Poyntz
albumen print, circa 1887 (1670s)
NPG D32077
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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