King James II and VII (1633-1701) Reigned 1685-8, when Duke...
King James II and VII (1633-1701) Reigned 1685-8, when Duke of York
Oil on canvas. King James II is depicted in armour, with a campaign tent behind him – an allusion to his military prowess. A coat of arms surrounded by entwined thistles and roses is thought to symbolise the governance of Scotland and England by a single monarch. In his 2010 catalogue of 'Later Stuart Portraits', art historian John Ingamells indicates his misgivings about the identity of the sitter in this portrait, but does not elucidate. He also lists two other versions of the painting, one in the collection at Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire, and another, sold through Sotheby’s, London, in 1996.
James II of England and VII of Scotland was the son of Charles I, who was executed during the Civil Wars in 1649. James’s elder brother, Charles II, was restored to the throne in 1660. At the time this portrait was painted, in the early 1660s, James was still Duke of York, a title bestowed on him soon after birth. During his time in exile James II fought with the Spanish and French armies. After his brother’s accession to the throne, he was made Lord High Admiral of England.
