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DE JONGHE, Clement : Potentiss. Ac Sereniss. D.D. Carolus II Angliae, Scotiae, Franciae, ac Hiberniae Rex

510 x 410 mm., trimmed just into the image, with a tear running across the upper part of the engraving, professionally repaired, some other very minor restoration otherwise in good condition.

This appears to be only the SECOND KNOWN EXAMPLE of the FIRST STATE of Clement de Jonghe's portrait of Charles II. The only recorded example according to Layard is at the Sutherland Clarendon Collection at the Bodleian Library, Oxford. The engraving is an equestrian portrait of Charles II in armour with a view across the Thames to London in the distance. The print was engraved to celebrate the Restoration of Charles to the throne in 1660. The image of London in the background records the old St. Paul's Cathedral before its destruction in the Great Fire of London in 1666. It is derived from the panorama of Matthias Merian published in Frankfurt, 1638. At the bottom is a celebratory verse in four languages, the far right being English:Behold the greatest King that ever England’ sawNot onely born to reigne, and cald by human Law;But raised, as it were, from death: that all maight seeHis Throne a saiths reward & heav’nlij Gist to beeThe British Museum Department of Prints and Drawings possess an example of a later state depicting George I dated to 1714 (Sligo Collection 1935,0413.181). The title is altered to "Georgius Ius D.G. Magn. Britann. Franc. et Hib. Rex" and the head and parts of the sky are re-engraved. For that issue there also appears to be much retouching of the engraving across the plate. Layard, George Somes, 'Catalogue Raisonné of Engraved British Portraits from Altered Plates', London, 1927. No. 25.I; Thieme & Becker (1907-50) XIX 134.

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