King Charles II King Charles II by Cornelius Johnson oil on
panel, 1639 11 3/8 in. x 7 7/8 in. (290 mm x 200 mm) Click on
the links below to find out more: Sitterback to top - King
Charles II (1630-1685), Reigned 1660-85. Sitter associated with
292 portraits. Artistback to top - Cornelius Johnson
(1593-1661), Portrait painter. Artist associated with 133
portraits, Sitter associated with 2 portraits. This portraitback
to top The eldest son of Charles I and 'bred to a wonderful
civility' according to his mother's wishes, Charles reacted
bravely to the outbreak of civil war. He first saw service at
Edgehill aged twelve. When advised to retreat he cried 'I fear
them not', flourished his pistol and had to be restrained from
charging. Charles campaigned until he was sent abroad for his
safety in 1646; five years later he made a daring invasion of
England which ended in disaster at the Battle of Worcester. The
image of him as a boy soldier was, it seems, a potent piece of
propaganda; Van Dyck had earlier painted him