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| Charles II painted in exile, by Philippe de Champaigne, 1653 |
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One of the series of unintentionally hilarious paintings of Charles
II’s Escape by Isaac Fuller commissioned
after the Restoration to mythologize the true story of the king’s
humility
among the loyal common people who helped him when, disguised as a
woodcutter, he was a fugitive after the Royalist defeat at Worcester
in 1651.
Charles’ familiar saturnine features are portrayed as they
looked in
his 30s, when he wore a periwig, not as the 21 year old youth he had been at the time of his
greatest
danger. The portrait by Philippe de Champaigne of the young king in exile was painted in Paris two years later in 1653.
Charles was a talented raconteur
who fell into the habit of repeating the story of his escape too often at court
to anyone who would listen, which does not preclude the profundity with which
he felt his debt, personal and regal, to the courage and selflessness of his supporters,
mostly Catholic recusants, excluded from privilege and power, who saved his
life.
[Image source: Wikipedia]
Full story: CHARLES II: Baroque Illusion
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