King James II

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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King James II

probably by William Faithorne, after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
line engraving, late 1630s-1640s
4 1/8 in. x 2 7/8 in. (105 mm x 72 mm) paper size
Given by the daughter of compiler William Fleming MD, Mary Elizabeth Stopford (née Fleming), 1931
Reference Collection
NPG D22819

Sitterback to top

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

Artistsback to top

Events of 1637back to top

Current affairs

Politician, John Hampden, fights a high profile case refusing to pay ship money imposed by Charles I, whose case is argued by Judge, Sir John Bankes. Hampden narrowly looses the case.
Charles I, eager to extend Anglicism to Scotland through the imposition of a new Prayer Book, meets with resistance.

Art and science

Sovereign of the Seas is launched, the largest, most lavishly decorated naval warship. Built by shipbuilder Peter Pett, construction is supervised by his father Phineas Pett.
John Milton's greatest memorial elegy, Lycidas, is dedicated to fellow poet Edward King.
Dramatist, Thomas Killigrew, writes his most popular play, The Parson's Wedding.

International

Charles I issues a proclamation that those emigrating to America must obtain a licence from the Commissioners for Plantations and a certificate proving allegiance to the king and conformity to the Church of England.
First recorded economic bubble. Contract prices for tulips in the Netherlands collapses having become very high.


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John Hardy

05 June 2020, 15:20

Sir,
On balance of probability this copper print line engraving was copied, without a mirror, from the original portrait of James Duke of York by CORNELIUS JOHNSON (CORNELIUS JANSSEN VAN CEULEN). It is oil on panel, painted in 1639. It was purchased by the NPG in 1976. The observer can tell that the image is mirror reversed because the pattern of the doublet fastenings are female in the engraving and male in the oil on canvas portrait.
Yours faithfully,
John RW Hardy