King William III

1 portrait of King William III

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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King William III

by Abraham Blooteling (Bloteling), after Sir Peter Lely
mezzotint, 1678
13 1/2 in. x 10 in. (344 mm x 253 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D9218

Sitterback to top

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

Artistsback to top

  • Abraham Blooteling (Bloteling) (1640-1690), Engraver, draughtsman and print publisher. Artist or producer associated with 69 portraits.
  • Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680), Portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 843 portraits, Sitter in 19 portraits.

Subject/Themeback to top

Events of 1678back to top

Current affairs

Informer, Titus Oates, concocts the Popish Plot, an elaborate tale of a Catholic conspiracy to murder the king, enthrone James, Duke of York and catholicize England. The story provokes panic and persecution of Catholics.
Extension of the Test Act (1673) excludes Catholics from both the House of Lords and Parliament.

Art and science

While imprisoned under the Conventicle Act, author John Bunyan, writes the first part of Pilgrims Progress, considered to be one of the most important religious works in the English language.
Poet laureate, John Dryden, publishes All for Love, an adaptation of William Shakespeare's Anthony and Cleopatra.

International

Last major conflict of the Franco-Dutch war, battle of St. Denis, is fiercely fought despite a peace treaty signed days earlier between the two countries. Prince William of Orange, leading Dutch forces, fights alongside his confidant, Hans Willem Bentinck, and an English force, under James Scott, Duke of Monmouth.

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