
Abraham Blooteling (1640-90) after Sir Peter Lely (1618–1680)
James II c.1685
Mezzotint | 62.3 x 47.2 cm | RCIN 602825
Following the accession of James VII and II as king in 1685, Blooteling adapted and reissued his earlier print of James as Duke of York. This impression is a working proof allowing the printmaker to check his progress in altering the plate, having trimmed the lettering from the bottom and scraped away the background tone and laurel-wreath border. In the finished state, a new border with updated lettering proclaims James as king.
Cat. 163