Portrait of Charles II and his queen Catharine of Braganza 1662 - 1674

David Loggan created this engraving, "Portrait of Charles II and his queen Catharine of Braganza," capturing the royal couple at a pivotal moment in British history. Charles II's reign, beginning in 1660, marked the Restoration period following years of political upheaval under Oliver Cromwell. Loggan's portrait offers a glimpse into the construction of royal identity and power. Charles, with his elaborate wig, embodies masculine authority, while Catharine's Portuguese heritage and Catholic faith made her a figure of both fascination and suspicion in the English court. Her attire and hairstyle reflect the fashions of the time, yet her foreignness set her apart. The inscriptions, "Dieu et mon droit" and "Honi soit qui mal y pense", translate to "God and my right" and "Shamed be he who thinks evil of it," framing the couple within a narrative of divine right and moral virtue, yet the reality of courtly life was far more complex. This portrait invites us to reflect on the public image and the personal realities of those in power. The weight of expectation and scrutiny borne by Charles and Catharine is palpable, their lives forever shaped by the tides of history and public opinion.