Charles II, 1630 - 1685. King of Scots 1649 - 1685. King of England and Ireland 1660 - 1685 (When Prince of Wales, with a page)
About this artwork
Painted during the Civil Wars between Parliament and Charles I, the portrait shows a young prince as a military hero confident of victory. Charles, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of the king, holds a commander's baton in his right hand and places his other hand on a helmet, held by his page. In the left corner of the picture, the hideous head of Medusa, symbol of strife, stares out, literally petrifying the enemy. In the distant background, a battle rages. The painting probably commemorates Charles's presence at the Battle of Edgehill in 1642.
Updated before 2020
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artist:William DobsonEnglish (1611 - 1646)
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title:Charles II, 1630 - 1685. King of Scots 1649 - 1685. King of England and Ireland 1660 - 1685 (When Prince of Wales, with a page)
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date created:About 1642
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materials:Oil on canvas
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measurements:153.60 x 129.80 cm; Framed: 180.00 x 157.50 x 14.50 cm / 58.00 kg
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object type:
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credit line:Purchased 1935
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accession number:PG 1244
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gallery:
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depicted:
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subject:
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artwork photographed by:Antonia Reeve
William Dobson
William Dobson
Dobson was born in London and must have received a good classical education. Little is known of him until he emerged at the court of Charles I in Oxford in 1642, during the Civil War. Van Dyck had died in 1641 so Dobson was effectively the painter to the king and court. Less elegant than Van...
