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King James II

4 of 134 portraits of King James II

King James II, by Sir Peter Lely, circa 1665-1670 - NPG 5211 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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King James II

by Sir Peter Lely
oil on canvas, circa 1665-1670
20 1/4 in. x 17 3/4 in. (514 mm x 451 mm)
Purchased, 1978
Primary Collection
NPG 5211

On display in Room 8 at the National Portrait Gallery

Sitterback to top

  • King James II (1633-1701), Reigned 1685-88. Sitter associated with 134 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680), Portrait painter. Artist associated with 842 portraits, Sitter in 19 portraits.

This portraitback to top

An unfinished sketch, almost certainly from life.

Linked publicationsback to top

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1665back to top

Current affairs

Great Plague initially breaks out in the deprived parish of St. Giles-in-the-Fields killing thousands. Humphrey Henchman, Bishop of London, takes a leading role in organising collections of money for the poor.
Five Mile Act forbids ejected clergymen from living within five miles of a parish they formerly served.

Art and science

A New Discourse of Trade, written by Sir Josiah Child, outspokenly advocates for the advantages of free trade.
The first issue of the Royal Society's scientific journal, Philosophical Transactions, is edited by Henry Oldenburg, the Society's Secretary.

International

Second Anglo-Dutch War. Despite England's resounding victory at the first naval encounter, the Battle of Lowestoft, failure to seize the valuable Dutch East Indies fleet by Admiral Edward Montagu, Earl of Sandwich, and subsequent Dutch victory at the battle at Vågen, were considerable setbacks for the English.

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