Jacobus II komt aan te Rouen, 1690 1691

Pieter Pickaert created this print of Jacobus II’s arrival in Rouen in 1690. The image depicts a pivotal moment in British and French history, laden with political and religious undertones. Made in the Netherlands, this engraving captures the arrival of the exiled King James II of England in France. Deposed during the Glorious Revolution of 1688, James, a Catholic monarch, sought refuge in Catholic France under the protection of Louis XIV. The print showcases James being greeted by French clergy and nobility amidst a backdrop of Catholic symbols and French flags, underscoring the alliance between the exiled king and the French court. It suggests a narrative of loyalty and Catholic solidarity at a time when political power was shifting in Protestant Britain. Historical sources, letters, and political pamphlets help us better understand not just the event, but the artist’s position on the politics of imagery during times of revolution.