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King William III

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King William III

after Jan de Baen
oil on canvas, based on a work of 1667
32 1/4 in. x 26 in. (820 mm x 660 mm) overall
Transferred from National Gallery, 1994
Primary Collection
NPG 6269

Sitterback to top

  • King William III (1650-1702), Reigned 1689-1702. Sitter associated with 142 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Jan de Baen (1633-1702), Artist. Artist associated with 2 portraits.

Linked publicationsback to top

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1667back to top

Current affairs

Leading figures of the 'Cabal' ministry, Henry Bennet, Earl of Arlington and George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, engineer the downfall of first minister, Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, who is ousted from Parliament. Fallen out of favour with the king, Clarendon's pompous attitude and conservatism had made him increasingly unpopular.

Art and science

Dutch woodcarver and sculptor Grinling Gibbons arrives in England. His innovative, naturalistic foliage woodcarving, with emphasis on sculptural form, became hugely popular.
Poet John Milton sells the rights to his epic poem, Paradise Lost (1663), to printer Samuel Simmons.

International

Dutch Admiral Michiel de Ruyter leads his fleet up the River Medway and succeeds in destroying several of Britain's warships at Chatham. Peace negotiations to end the Anglo-Dutch War were already in progress in Breda, but the attack encouraged a humiliated Charles II to hastily sue for peace.

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