Johann Friedlein, King Charles II England 1685 engraved

Antique 1685 copper engraving

"King Charles II of England", by Johann Friedlein, copper engraving, c. 1685, signed in plate "IFriedlein sculp.". Bust length with lace cravat, ermine mantle with Latin inscription and coat of arms on oval border. German inscription bellow is an epitaph roughly translated "With the crown and scepter, I ruled the Land of Short paces, but my fate is better there, in the Land of Angels." The German rhyme plays with the words "Engenland" [land of short-paces, the land of problems] and "Engel-Land" [The Land of Angels]. This epitaph on the death of Charles II suggest the date of the print creation shortly after 1685. Reduced to design and attached to laid paper.

Authentic seventeenth century engraving. The COA is included.

Reference:

Another copy of this engraving is located in the Royal Collection Trust of Great Britain, Buckingham Palace. Reference number RCIN 602523.

Johann Friedlein was a student of Christoph Weigel, Nuremberg. After his training, Friedlein was active in Augsburg. He is recorded in Hamburg c.1685, 1690-1695 in Kiel, 1699-1706 in Copenhagen.

[Reference: Thieme, vol.12, p. 459]

Charles II (29 May 1630 - 6 February 1685) was king of England, Scotland and Ireland. He was king of Scotland from 1649 until his deposition in 1651, and king of England, Scotland and Ireland from the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 until his death. Charles was one of the most popular and beloved kings of England, known as the Merry Monarch, in reference to both the liveliness and hedonism of his court and the general relief at the return to normality after over a decade of rule by Cromwell and the Puritans. Charles's wife, Catherine of Braganza, bore no live children, but Charles acknowledged at least twelve illegitimate children by various mistresses. He was succeeded by his brother James.

Provenance:

This engraving comes from a collection of engravings bound by the German art collector "A.L." The finalized collection of hand-numbered engravings is dated 1762 which provides additional warranty that the engravings are authentic and created prior to 1762; auctioned in London, UK.

Artwork will be mailed unframed.

US: Priority (c.2-4 days) --------- $18.50
Canada: Priority (c.2-7 weeks) ---- $29.50
World: Priority (c.2-8 weeks) ----- $39.95
Condition Report: Copper engraved plate, cut to design 4.3/4" x 6.3/4" [12cm x 17.4cm]; ink drawn frame, attached to larger laid paper, entire c. 5.3/4" x 7.1/2" [14.3cm x 18.7cm], "A.L." faded ink number "21" at the upper right corner, some aging, very good condition.