
Court society and portraiture
Charles II’s court was a burst of life and colour after the sober Commonwealth years. The king surrounded himself with beautiful women, actors, scientists, poets, writers and wits. As an avid theatregoer he also revived the playhouses, hosted masques, balls and great feasts at which the court would appear in their finest clothes and jewels.
This magnificent world is captured in portraits of the king and his courtiers. For Charles II paintings were not only for pleasure and decoration for his palaces; they were also an expression of power. The king exercised control over his image in portraits and commissioned paintings of his courtiers, depicted in flattering classical guises or in rich court dress. Queen Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of York and the king’s mistresses were also active patrons who fashioned their images through portraiture. The resurgence of artistic patronage emanating from the court earned Charles II the reputation of a ‘great encourager of arts’.
John Michael Wright (1617-94)
Charles II (1630-1685)
Willem van de Velde the Younger (1633-1707)
The Attack on the French Ships at Martinique, 6th July 1667
Sir Peter Lely (1618-80)
Prince Rupert (1619-82)
Sir Peter Lely (1618-80)
Anne Hyde, Duchess of York (1637-71)
Sir Peter Lely (1618-80)
Mary Bagot, Countess of Falmouth and Dorset (1645-79)
Sir Peter Lely (1618-80)
Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland (ca 1641-1709)
Jacob Huysmans (c. 1633-96)
Catherine of Braganza (1638-1705)
Sir Peter Lely (1618-80)
Mary of Modena (1658-1718) when Duchess of York
Sir Peter Lely (1618-80)
Sir John Lawson (d. 1665)
Philippe Vignon (1638-1701)
Louise Renee de Penancoet de Keroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth and Aubigny (1649-1734)
Sir Peter Lely (1618-80)
Elizabeth Hamilton, Countess of Gramont (1641-1708)
Willem van de Velde the Elder (1611-93)
'Holmes's Bonfire', the burning of Dutch Merchant Ships between Terschelling and Vlieland, 19th August 1666
Attributed to Edward Pearce (c. 1630-95)
Charles II (1630-1685)
Antonio Verrio (c. 1639-1707)
The Sea Triumph of Charles II
John Michael Wright (1617-94)
John Lacy (d. 1681)
Simon Verelst (1644-1721)
Charles II (1630-1685)
Sir Peter Lely (1618-80)
James II (1633-1701) when Duke of York
John Riley (1646-91)
Bridget Holmes (1591-1691)
Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723)
Michael Alphonsus Shen Fu-Tsung (d. 1691), 'The Chinese Convert'
David des Granges (c. 1611-c. 1675)
Queen Henrietta Maria (1609-1669)
British School, 17th century
Charles II (1630-1685)
Attributed to David des Granges (c. 1611-c. 1675)
Catherine of Braganza (1638-1705)
Samuel Cooper (1609-72)
James II (1633-1701) when Duke of York
Style of Jean Petitot (1607-91)
Mary, Princess of Orange (1631-1660)
? British School, 17th century
Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1640-1660)
Jean Petitot (1607-91)
Henrietta, Duchess of Orléans (1644-1670)
Samuel Cooper (1609-72)
Frances Teresa Stuart, Duchess of Richmond (1647-1702)
Samuel Cooper (1609-72)
Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland (1641-1709)
Samuel Cooper (1609-72)
Catherine of Braganza (1638-1705)
Samuel Cooper (1609-72)
George Monck, 1st. Duke of Albemarle (1608-1671)
Samuel Cooper (1609-72)
James Scott, Duke of Monmouth and Buccleuch (1649-1685)
Samuel Cooper (1609-72)
Charles II
British School, 17th century
Portrait of an unknown lady, perhaps Louise de Kéroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth
Style of Susannah-Penelope Rosse (c. 1655-1700)
Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond (1672-1723)
British School, 17th century
Charles Beauclerk, Duke of St. Albans (1670-1726)
Samuel Cooper (1609-72)
James Scott, Duke of Monmouth and Buccleuch (1649-1685).
Mathieu Van Beveren (1630-1690)
Cabinet James II
Susannah-Penelope Rosse (c. 1655-1700)
James II (1633-1701)
Susannah-Penelope Rosse (c. 1655-1700)