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| Oil on Panel |
| 17th Century |
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Mary of Modena was possessed of great personal charm, but this was of no use in reconciling English popular opinion either to her husband’s Catholic religion or to his intention to bring the whole country back to the Roman faith. The birth of a son, James Stuart, three years after the Duke''s accession as King James II precipitated the Glorious Revolution, in which opponents of the King invited the landing of William of Orange to defend the Protestant religion. From then, until her death in 1718, Mary of Modena''s life was spent in exile from Britain, ceaselessly promoting the cause of her husband and, from 1701, her son in their fruitless attempts to regain the throne. This beautiful portrait was painted after she had left England behind forever, and hauntingly suggests both the strength of her personal character and the disillusion of exile.
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