The Sobieskis and Stuarts. Portrait of James III/VIII, J. Freeman, 19th century
The Sobieskis and Stuarts. Portrait of James III/VIII, J. Freeman, 19th century - Photo gallery
The Sobieskis and Stuarts. Portrait of James III/VIII, J. Freeman, 19th century - Photo gallery
engraved by J. Freeman after Alexis Simon Belle (1712)
copperplate on paper, 19th century
private collection
The engraving was based on a portrait of the young King James dating from 1712. It was one of his most common depictions, and the sitter’s favourite. The author of the original painting, which is on display at this exhibition, was Alexis Simon Belle (1674–1734), a Frenchman who was the court painter of the Stuarts. Four copies of the portrait were made, and then more en buste, and it was reproduced in engravings distributed throughout Europe and the British Isles.
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The Sobieskis and Stuarts. Portrait of James III/VIII, Alexis Simon Belle, 1712
Alexis Simon Belle (1674–1734), a pupil and close associate of François de Troy (1645–1730), began to paint portraits for the Stuarts in 1698 and produced many of James, both as Prince of Wales and as king.
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The Sobieskis and Stuarts. Portraits of James III/VIII and Clementina Sobieska, William Mosman, 1733
The originals of these portraits were painted by Francesco Trevisani (1656–1746) in 1719, at the time of the marriage between James III/VIII and Clementina.
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The Sobieskis and Stuarts. Portraits of James III/VIII and Clementina, Antonio David, 1730
These are the most representative portraits of James III/VIII and Clementina. The lost originals by Martin van Meytens (1695–1770) were painted in 1725, on the occasion of the birth of the couple’s second son, Henry Benedict.
