King James II
- Extended Catalogue Entry
King James II
by Unknown artist
terracotta bust, 1685-1688
31 5/8 in. (803 mm) high
Click on the links below to find out more:
This portraitback to top
Traces of white plaster suggest that this terracotta was made as a model for a bronze bust, although no bronze version is known to survive.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Ingamells, John, Later Stuart Portraits 1685-1714, 2009, p. 124
- Ollard, Richard, Character Sketches: Samuel Pepys and His Circle, 2000, p. 32
- Ollard, Richard, Pepys and his Contemporaries, 2015, p. 48
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 332
- Williamson, David, Kings and Queens, 2010, p. 119
- Williamson, David, The National Portrait Gallery: History of the Kings and Queens of England, 1998, p. 122
Events of 1685back to top
Current affairsCharles II dies, his heir, Catholic brother, James II, succeeds to the throne. Despite deep distrust by many Protestants, he initially experiences unexpected popularity.
James Scott, Duke of Monmouth, leads the Monmouth Rebellion ambitious to seize the throne. Following his defeat at Sedgemoor, Monmouth is executed at Tower Hill.
Art and scienceOpera Universa, by physician Thomas Sydenham, considered the father of English medicine, is published in London.
Organist, Henry Purcell composes, My heart is inditing, for the coronation of James II and his queen, Mary of Modena.
Writer on dentistry, Charles Allen publishes the earliest known English book on dentistry.
InternationalThe Edict of Fontainebleau is issued by Louis XIV revoking the Edict of Nantes which gave Huguenots a right to practice their religion, free from persecution. Although Huguenots had steadily left France since the Dragonnades in 1681, this edict essentially ended official religious toleration in France.
See this portrait
On display at Tate Britain, London
Exhibitions and displays
- Life, Death and Memory
Until 4 February 2018
- Portrait of the Day: Henry VIII & Katherine of Aragon
17 December, 12:30
Tell us more
Help us conserve a portrait of a female adventurer, poet and medical pioneer