This grand scale portrait painted in the 17th century depicts King James II, when Duke of York. A state portrait format: A full length standing figure accompanied by such symbols of power and office; the baton of command refers to his office of Lord High Admiral. The armour is a nod to his ability on the battlefield as does the elaborate plumbed helmet on the table dressed with a red cloth fringed with gold. Behind him the classical fluted column is both an indicator of the portrait''s noble setting and an emblem of fortitude. It is the epidemy of the early propaganda portrait. Images such as this were an essential tool to emphasise and glorify a sitter’s importance and further their cause and by the early 17th century this was a favoured format for portraits of royalty and aristocracy. Royal portraits were painted both individually and in series to hang in royal palaces and stately homes of the nobility. The originals of these portraits served as a prototype for many copies...