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Royal Society London

2 of 4 portraits of William Brouncker, 2nd Viscount Brouncker

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Royal Society London

by Wenceslaus Hollar, after John Evelyn
etching, 1667
7 7/8 in. x 6 in. (201 mm x 152 mm) paper size
Given by the daughter of compiler William Fleming MD, Mary Elizabeth Stopford (née Fleming), 1931
Reference Collection
NPG D30335

Sittersback to top

Artistsback to top

  • John Evelyn (1620-1706), Diarist and virtuoso. Artist associated with 2 portraits, Sitter associated with 13 portraits.
  • Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677), Etcher. Artist associated with 540 portraits, Sitter associated with 10 portraits.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG D2945: Frontispiece to 'The History of the Royal-Society of London' by Thomas Sprat (from same plate)

Portrait setback 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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