Catherine Sedley, Countess of Dorchester







© National Portrait Gallery, London
- Buy a print
- Use this image
- Share this
Catherine Sedley, Countess of Dorchester
by Robert Williams, published by Edward Cooper, after Willem Wissing
mezzotint, late 17th century
9 1/2 in. x 6 3/4 in. (241 mm x 170 mm) paper size
Given by Sir Herbert Henry Raphael, 1st Bt, 1916
Reference Collection
NPG D18998
Sitterback to top
- Catherine Sedley, Countess of Dorchester (1657-1717), Mistress of James II; wife of 1st Earl of Portmore; daughter of Sir Charles Sedley. Sitter in 12 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- Edward Cooper (died 1725), Printseller. Artist associated with 169 portraits, Sitter in 3 portraits.
- Robert Williams (active 1680-1704), Mezzotinter. Artist associated with 76 portraits.
- Willem Wissing (1656-1687), Portrait painter. Artist associated with 146 portraits, Sitter in 3 portraits.
Related worksback to top
Events of 1669back to top
Current affairs
An indulgence is issued in Scotland, the result of Secretary of State for Scotland, John Maitland's negotiations with Presbyterians, allowing some formerly ejected clergymen to return to their ministries.Henrietta Maria, queen of Charles I, dies at the château de Colombes and is buried in the Cathedral of St Denis.
Art and science
Architect, Christopher Wren is appointed surveyor of the king's works.Mathematician, Isaac Newton, is made Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge. Earlier in the year, he builds the first known reflecting telescope.
Diarist Samuel Pepys, with failing eyesight, stops writing his diary never to resume.
International
Charles II begins secret diplomatic negotiations with Louis XIV of France in April, with a view to securing an alliance against the Dutch, and financial support. Communications between the two monarchs flowed through Charles's sister, Henrietta Anne, Duchess of Orleans, sister-in-law of Louis.Tell us more back to top
Can you tell us more about this portrait? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.
If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license this image, please use our Rights and Images service.
Please note that we cannot provide valuations.
We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.