Charles II Receiving the Duchess of Orleans at Dover

DESCRIPTION: This historical print depicts King Charles II of England receiving his sister, Henrietta Anne Stuart, the Duchess of Orléans, at Dover in 1670. ‘Charles II. Receiving the Duchess of Orleans at Dover’ was designed by the prominent English painter Thomas Stothard (T. Stothard R.A.) and engraved by Albert Henry Payne. The scene illustrates a momentous diplomatic encounter on English soil as Henrietta Anne, youngest sister to Charles II and sister-in-law to King Louis XIV of France, crossed the English Channel to act as the key intermediary between the two monarchs. Her visit culminated in the signing of the infamous Secret Treaty of Dover (1670). Under this private alliance, Charles II agreed to aid France in its military campaign against the Dutch Republic and secretly promised to convert to Catholicism in exchange for substantial financial subsidies from Louis XIV, which allowed the English king to rule without relying heavily on Parliament. STYLE: Engraving COLOUR: Monochrome SIZE (cm): 15 x 23 CREATORS: A H Payne after Thomas Stothard PUBLICATION: PUBLISHER: DATE: C19 COMMENTS: Excellent condition with some patina from its antiquity SUBJECT: People;Royals PACKAGE: Single one-sided sheet in acid-free mount, flat & unfolded inside hard-backed envelope. Royal Mail Tracked 24 included. Note: Images are provided for illustration purposes only and are intended to show the complete printed product, including any imperfections of age that may be present. Frames or props shown in the images are for display purposes only and are not included with your purchase.