King Charles II landing in Dover in 1660. Engraving by W. Sharp after B. West.

"This painting shows General Monk on his knees greeting the King on his arrival at Dover on 25 May 1660. The King's brothers, the Dukes of Gloucester and York, who accompanied him, stand behind him, and in the crowd behind them are the Earl of Clarendon and Sir John Grenville, who had served as chief intermediary between Monk and Charles II. In the background is Dover Castle."--von Erffa and Staley, loc. cit.

Although the Duke of York was seven years older than the Duke of Gloucester, it is not clear from the picture which was meant to be which. The prince on the right wears the Garter star, but both of them were knights of the Garter. Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, stands on the right of them, resting his right hand on his hip. The man to the right of him is partially obscured but is said to be Sir John Granville (Grenville), 1st Earl of Bath, of whom no engraved portrait appears to have existed as a possible model for West's portrait

[Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified]

1 print : line engraving, with etching ; image 42.5 x 59.2 cm

Painted by B. West Historical painter to his Majesty. Engraved by William Sharp

Helmut von Erffa and Allen Staley, The paintings of Benjamin West, New Haven 1986, pp. 206, no. 84

Wellcome Collection 42658i

After a painting exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1783 as "General Monk receiving Charles II on the beach at Dover". It was subsequently acquired by Milwaukee Art Museum