Core Record |
| Title |
King Charles II |
| Collection |
National Trust for Scotland (Haddo House) |
| Artist |
Attributed to studio of Lely, Peter (Dutch painter and draftsman, 1618-1680, active in England) |
| Date Earliest |
probably 1671 |
| Date Latest |
probably 1680 |
| Description |
Charles II (1630-1685) was one of the most popular of Britain's monarchs. His portraits were in demand throughout his childhood and years of exile, but especially after the Restoration of 1660. He disliked sitting for his portraits and so artists such as Peter Lely, his Principal Painter, employed studio assistants to produce large numbers of portraits based on very few sittings.This bust-length portrait, set within a painted cartouche, was a particularly popular image of Charles II, and Lely's studio produced tens of copies. It is based on an autograph full-length Lely portrait of the king in the Duke of Grafton's collection (Euston Hall). |
| Current Accession Number |
79-102a |
| Subject |
portrait (King Charles II) |
| Measurements |
73.6 x 60.9 cm cm (estimate) |
| Material |
oil on canvas |
| Acquisition Details |
Purchased from the 4th Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair 1978. |
| Provenance |
By descent in the Gordon family. |
| Notes |
The prime version of this popular image of Charles II was probably the picture formerly in the collection of the Earl of Harrington at Elvaston Castle. The portrait type was copied in mezzotint form, in reverse, by Abraham Blooteling and engraved by Edward Luttrell, thus ensuring further dissemination of the image. The painted, full-length prime version is dated to 1671, which would give this studio copy an earliest date of the same year. |
| Rights Owner |
National Trust for Scotland |
| Author |
David Taylor |
