James II (1633-1701), as Duke of York and Lord High Admiral
after Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1680
Materials
oil on canvas
Measurements
1270 x 1016 mm (50 x 40 in)
Order this imageCollection
Dyrham, Gloucestershire
NT 453780
Caption
James II is shown here as Lord High Admiral, a post he held between 1660 and 1673, when he was still Duke of York. He was appointed Lord High Admiral when his brother was restored to the throne as Charles II, and was deprived of the post by the passing of the first Test Act in 1673, which disqualified him, as a Catholic, from holding public office.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, James II (1633-1701), as Duke of York and Lord High Admiral, after Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680) or possibly Studio of Sir Peter Lely. A three-quarter-length portrait of James II when Duke of York, turned to the right with head facing, dressed in armour with a lace cravat and blue sash. He is shown resting his right elbow on a pedestal, on which is draped a red curtain, and holding a baton in his right hand. His left hand is held to his hip.
Provenance
Indigenous collection purchased by Ministry of Works in 1956 and given to Dyrham Park in 1961
Credit line
Dyrham Park, The Blathwayt Collection (acquired by the Ministry of Works via the National Land Fund in 1956, and transferred to the National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Label on the back: James II when Lord High Admiral of England
Makers and roles
after Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680), artist previously catalogued as manner of Willem Wissing (Amsterdam 1656 - Burghley House 1687), artist previously catalogued as attributed to Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680), artist previously catalogued as attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646 - London 1723), artist
References
Inventory and valuation of all the household furniture, linen, china, glass, books, pictures [...] the property of William Blathwayt Esqr. at his late residence Dyrham Park [...] March 1839. [March 1839]., in the Saloon Dyrham Park 1844 List of Valuable Pictures, Prints, &c at Dyrham House, Gloucestershire the Property of Geo: Wm. Blathwayt Esq. with nominal prices affixed to some for the purposes of Insurance only. [1844], in the Saloon, no.16 Inventory [of] Household Furniture, China, Glass, Oil Paintings, Engravings, Books, Silver Plate [...] In the Mansion House at Dyrham Park Gloucestershire bequeathed as Heirlooms by the late Colonel George William Blathwayt who died May the 14th 1871, in the Saloon Dyrham Park 1937 An Inventory and Valuation of the contents of Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire, the property of the late R. W. Blathwayt, Esq., made for the purpose of Probate duty by, Puttick & Simpson [...] January 1st 1937, in the Saloon Ingamells, 2009: John Ingamells, Later Stuart Portraits 1685-1714, National Portrait Gallery, London, 2009, p.127