Formal portraits of monarchs were disseminated though prints, such as this extraordinary mezzotint of the Duke of York, later James II (r.1685–88) after Sir Peter Lely (1618–1680).

Lely had a special relationship with Dutch printmaker Abraham Blooteling (1634–1690) who created prints after a great number of his portraits. This life-size mezzotint perfectly captures the rich tones and dramatic lighting of a painting, and results in a strikingly dramatic portrait.