Portrait of Charles II (1630-1685) a copy

Portrait of Charles II, three-quarter length in armour (copy)
Painted by William Wissing (1656-1687)

Charles left the country on his father's instructions during the Civil War, returning to Scotland after his father's execution in 1649. The Royalist Presbyterians were defeated by Cromwell at Dunbar in 1650, but Charles was crowned at Scone that same year.
He was accompanied by the 2nd Duke of Hamilton when the Royalist army marched south to Worcester where they were defeated by Cromwell, the Duke dying of gangrene and the King making his historic escape through England to France.

William Wissing, born in Amsterdam, was for a time assistant to Lely after whose death he became very popular, painting all the Royal Family. After Charles' death he went to Holland to take portraits of William and Mary. He died at Burleigh in 1687.es II (1630-1685)