1640s Collection

Flag of the Scottish Covenanters
The Flag of the Scottish Covenanters. They were Presbyterians sworn to defend their religion, part of a Protestant effort to seize power in Scotland against the English

View of the Church of Sloten in the Winter, 1640-1666. Creator: Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraten
View of the Church of Sloten in the Winter, 1640-1666

English Royalists 1640-9
English Royalist soldiers: doublet & breeches, lace falling collars, lace-edged boot hose tops, bucket-top boots, plumed hats, cloak

Battle of Edgehill, the rising of the people in defence of liberty. Prince Rupert of the Rhine, Duke of Cumberland, leading the Royalist cavalry. Date: 23 October 1642

Portrait of a Man, 1640. Creator: Govaert Flinck
Portrait of a Man, 1640.

Self-portrait wearing a hat and two Chains, 1642. Creator: Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn
Self-portrait wearing a hat and two Chains, 1642.

Still Life with Glass of Wine, pewter Jug and other Objects, c1640s. Creator: Jan Jansz Treck
Still Life with Glass of Wine, pewter Jug and other Objects, c1640s.

Christ and the Woman of Samaria at the Well, 1640. Creator: Guercino
Christ and the Woman of Samaria at the Well, 1640. The meeting between Christ and the woman of Samaria at the well is only recounted in the Gospel of Saint John.

A River with Fishermen, 1645. Creator: Salomon Ruysdael
A River with Fishermen, 1645.

View of Naarden, 1647. Creator: Jacob van Ruisdael
View of Naarden, 1647.

Moonlit Landscape with a Road beside a canal, 1645. Creator: Aert van der Neer
Moonlit Landscape with a Road beside a canal, 1645.

Wooded River Landscape, 1645. Creator: Aert van der Neer
Wooded River Landscape, 1645.

Family Group in a Landscape, 1645. Creator: Frans Hals
Family Group in a Landscape, 1645.

Winter Landscape with Figures on Ice, 1643. Creator: Jan van Goyen
Winter Landscape with Figures on Ice, 1643.

Self-portrait etching at a window, 1648. Creator: Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn
Self-portrait etching at a window, 1648.

A blind hurdy-gurdy player and family receiving alms, 1648. Creator: Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn
A blind hurdy-gurdy player and family receiving alms, 1648.

Caricatures and deformities after Leonardo. Two heads, 1645. Creator: Wenceslaus Hollar
Caricatures and deformities after Leonardo. Two heads, 1645.

Caricatures and deformities after Leonardo. Two distorted heads, 1645. Creator: Wenceslaus Hollar
Caricatures and deformities after Leonardo. Two distorted heads, 1645. Depicts two deformed heads. The man on the left seems to be a caricature of Dante

Charles I, 1649. Creator: Wenceslaus Hollar
Charles I, 1649.

Henry VIII, 1647. Creator: Wenceslaus Hollar
Henry VIII, 1647.

Lamentation Over The Body Of Christ, c1645-50. Creator: Alessandro Turchi
Lamentation Over The Body Of Christ, c1645-50. Christ's body has been removed from the cross and laid on a tomb. A basket in the foreground contains the crown of thorns

Caricatures and deformities after Leonardo. The old man with curly hair, c.1645. Creator: Wenceslaus Hollar
Caricatures and deformities after Leonardo. The old man with curly hair, c.1645. A profile of an old man, facing left. He has a mane of curly hair

Caricatures and deformities after Leonardo. The old man with gaps between his teeth, c.1645. Creator: Wenceslaus Hollar
Caricatures and deformities after Leonardo. The old man with gaps between his teeth, c.1645. The ferocious aspect of this elderly man is emphasised by his massive chin and few remaining teeth

Turk's head, 1645. Creator: Wenceslaus Hollar
Turk's head, 1645. A solemn, wealthy and well-dressed middle aged Turk, presumably a merchant, with an immaculate moustache.

Man drawing from a cast, c.1641. Creator: Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn
Man drawing from a cast, c.1641.

Eight landscapes. Plate 6. Mountainous landscape with tall cliffs, 1640-51. Creator: Herman Naiwincx
Eight landscapes. Plate 6. Mountainous landscape with tall cliffs, 1640-51.

A baker blowing his horn, c.1648. Creator: Adriaen van Ostade
A baker blowing his horn, c.1648.

The organ-grinder, 1647. Creator: Adriaen van Ostade
The organ-grinder, 1647.

The family, 1647. Creator: Adriaen van Ostade
The family, 1647.

Queen Henrietta Maria, 1640-1642. Creator: William Faithorne
Queen Henrietta Maria, 1640-1642. Queen Henrietta Maria (1609-69), consort of the ill-fated Charles I, in a highly revealing, excessively low cut dress, respendent with pearl bodice

The old man with a leaf of trefoil on his coat, 1642-1669. Creator: Ferdinand Bol
The old man with a leaf of trefoil on his coat, 1642-1669.

The philosopher, 1642. Creator: Ferdinand Bol
The philosopher, 1642. An elderly, bald-headed, bearded apostle look-alike pores over a vast tome, still more ancient than himself, in complete concentration. Two globes are to his right.

Jan de Wael. From Icones principum virorum ('The Iconography'), 1645. Creator: Anthony van Dyck
Jan de Wael. From Icones principum virorum ('The Iconography'), 1645.

The quack, 1648. Creator: Adriaen van Ostade
The quack, 1648. A quack doctor is selling his medicines in a tent, probably part of a village fair. He assumes an air of learning as he praises the known effects of his medication

Christ healing the sick ('The hundred guilder print'), 1775. Creator: William Baillie
Christ healing the sick ('The hundred guilder print'), 1775.

Holy Family in an interior, 1643-5. Creator: Ferdinand Bol
Holy Family in an interior, 1643-5.

Harbour with a large tower, c.1641. Creator: Claude Lorrain
Harbour with a large tower, c.1641.

Cardinal Bentivoglio, 1645-1650. Creator: Jean Morin
Cardinal Bentivoglio, 1645-1650. Bust portrait of Cardinal Guido Bentivoglio d'Aragona (1579-1644), which shows him slightly turned to the right, with short hair, moustache and beard

Lucas Vorsterman. From Icones principum virorum ('The Iconography'), 1645. Creator: Anthony van Dyck
Lucas Vorsterman. From Icones principum virorum ('The Iconography'), 1645.

Rest On The Flight Into Egypt, 1646. Creator: Claude Lorrain
Rest On The Flight Into Egypt, 1646. An angel guides Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus on their flight from Bethlehem to Egypt to escape King Herod's persecution

The Young Card Players, 1643. Creator: Antoine Le Nain
The Young Card Players, 1643. These rosy-cheeked children appear to play cards innocently, however they are actually trying to cheat the well-dressed boy, second from right.

A Juniper plant
5321275 A Juniper plant; (add.info.: Botanical drawing of a Juniper plant: The juice of young leaves and berries taken in vine was recommended against snake bite and Plague)

Sweet potato plant
5310340 Sweet potato plant; (add.info.: Botanical drawing of sweet potato plant: From John Parkinson; Theatrum Botanieum or The Theatre of Plantes; 1640.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Hops
5311735 Hops; (add.info.: Hops (Humulus Lupulus). In addition to the use of hops in brewing, the tips of the young shoots were boiled and eaten like asparagus

Senna
5311736 Senna; (add.info.: Senna: a decoction of dried leaves used as a cathartic and an emetic: decoction of pods also used for purging; applied externally for sores and ulcers)

Cloves
5321265 Cloves; (add.info.: Botanical drawing of cloves: From John Parkinson; Theatrum Botanieum or The Theatre of Plantes; 1640.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Feverfew
5311733 Feverfew; (add.info.: Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium) As well as being used as a febrifuge, it vas prescribed for coughs, congestion of the lungs

Africa, 1640
2902123 Africa, 1640; (add.info.: Africa, 1640.); Buyenlarge Archive/UIG

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

The 1640s were a tumultuous time in history, marked by political upheaval and intellectual advancements. The flag of the Scottish Covenanters fluttered proudly, symbolizing their resistance against English Royalists during the years 1640-9. Meanwhile, across the channel, French mathematician and philosopher René Descartes was deep in thought, laying the foundations for modern philosophy. In England, King Charles I made a bold move by taking the Speaker's Chair, asserting his authority amidst growing tensions with Parliament. However, this act would ultimately lead to his downfall as he found himself before Gloucester during the English Civil War. Amidst these troubled times, King Charles I bid farewell to his family as he prepared for battle and uncertain outcomes. Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Stafford found himself imprisoned in the Tower of London for his loyalty to the king. The Battle of Naseby became a defining moment in English history as Parliamentary forces clashed with Royalists in 1645. The outcome shifted power towards Parliament and set the stage for future events. Artistic expression also flourished during this era; Edward Penfield's Coach of 1640 captured both elegance and functionality through its intricate design. In contrast to these vibrant scenes stood still life paintings that reflected on mortality and transience. Meanwhile, Hampshire witnessed intense conflict during the Siege of Basing House while Edgehill became synonymous with bravery and sacrifice due to its significance as one of the first major battles fought between Royalist and Parliamentary forces. As we reflect upon this period today, let us remember how these events shaped our world – politically, intellectually, and artistically – leaving an indelible mark on history that continues to resonate centuries later.