Scheveningen, departure of Charles II – Pieter Hendricksz. Schut, 1660
€2.150
THE DEPARTURE OF CHARLES II FROM SCHEVENINGEN, THE BEGINNING OF THE STUART RESTORATION
“The departure of Charles Stuward the II kinge of England, Scotland, France, and Yrland, from the Hollands coast at Scheveling for England, the 2 of iune anno 1660”. Copper engraving made by Pieter Hendricksz. Schut and published by Nicolaes Visscher I in 1660. Coloured by a later hand. Size (plate mark): 41.9 x 52 cm.
Charles II fled to France in 1646 during the English Civil War. (King Charles I was executed in 1649 by order of Oliver Cromwell.) Later, Charles II resided in the Southern Netherlands. From 1656 to 1658, he lived in Bruges. Charles visited various cities in the Dutch Republic. In Leeuwarden, he reportedly visited a barber twice. During the final period of his exile, he stayed in The Hague.
Oliver Cromwell died in 1658 in London and was succeeded by his son Richard Cromwell. However, Richard proved unable to keep the country united, and the army restored the monarchy. Subsequently, the exiled King Charles II was recalled. In May 1660, Charles II departed from the beach at Scheveningen.
This news print depicts the departure of Charles II, observed by a massive crowd. Hundreds of carriages, countless carts, onlookers, and horses were present on the beach. Along the road from The Hague to Scheveningen, the area was packed with people. Never before had there been such a large gathering in Holland. On the beach in the center, Charles bids farewell to high-ranking officials, friends, and the Grand Pensionary Johan de Witt. To the left in the background are the dunes and the village of Scheveningen.
A pinnace, “bravely adorned with palm and oranges,” is ready to convey his sister, Mary Henrietta Stuart, and his aunt, Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia, to the brigantine of Admiral Edward Montagu. Charles II himself takes a ‘chaloupe’ to the admiral’s ship, which would carry him to England and mark the beginning of the Stuart Restoration.
Literature:
- Hollstein’s Dutch & Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca. 1450 – 1700, no. 1-2(2)
- Frederik Muller (1863-1882) “Nederlandsche historieplaten”, no. 2158-a; “beautiful engraving”.
Price: Euro 2.150,- (incl. frame)
