James Ussher

after Sir Peter Lely
oil on canvas, circa 1654
30 3/4 in. x 25 3/4 in. (781 mm x 654 mm)
Transferred from British Museum, 1879
Primary Collection
NPG 574

Sitterback to top

James Ussher (1580-1656), Archbishop of Armagh. Sitter associated with 44 portraits.

Artistback to top

Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680), Portrait painter. Artist associated with 843 portraits, Sitter in 19 portraits.

Linked publicationsback to top

Hart-Davis, Adam, Chain Reactions, 2000, p. 118
Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 628

Subjects & Themesback to top

Oil
Painting

Events of 1654back to top

Current affairs

Under the constitution prescribed in 'The Instrument of Government', the first Protectorate Parliament is summoned by Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector. The constitution also marks the first systematic distribution of Parliamentary seats, listing MPs to be returned to Parliament. William Lenthall, Speaker of the House since 1640, continues as Speaker.

Art and science

Poet and polemicist, John Milton, writes Defensio secunda, in defence of the Parliamentary regime, and in response to an anonymous royalist tract which violently attacked Milton, the Clamor, published in The Hague in 1652, most probably written by religious controversialist, Anglican Peter Du Moulin.

International

Charles X, King of Sweden, ascends the Swedish throne after the scandal of Queen Kristina's abdication and subsequent conversion to Catholicism.
Treaty of Westminster is signed ending the First Anglo-Dutch War.
King Louis XIV of France is crowned at Rheims.

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