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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Nell Gwyn, c. 1680

Simon Verelst

Nell Gwyn, c. 1680

The actress Eleanor ‘Nell’ Gwyn (c. 1651–1687) was one of the first women to perform on the English public stage. She was also the most famous and popular of King Charles II’s many mistresses. She had two sons by him: Charles, later Duke of St Albans, and James. Most likely born in London, Gwyn grew up in its slums in the shadow of the English Civil War (1642–51). After living hand-to-mouth, apparently selling oranges to theatregoers and shucking oysters, Gwyn established herself as a comic actress in London’s Drury Lane.

She was an astute manager of her public profile, and collaborated with the Dutch artist Simon Verelst on a series of sexualised portraits that knowingly exploited her notoriety as a royal mistress, as in this portrait in which she is shown wearing just her underwear that partially reveals her shoulders and chest.

National Portrait Gallery, London Bequeathed by John Neale, 1931
© National Portrait Gallery, London

Related information

William Shakespeare, c. 1600-1610 associated with John Taylor
William Shakespeare, c. 1600-1610 associated with John Taylor
William Shakespeare, c. 1600-1610 associated with John Taylor
William Shakespeare, c. 1600-1610 associated with John Taylor

Take thy face hence

Magazine article by Joanna Gilmour, 2022

Joanna Gilmour travels through time to explore the National Portrait Gallery London’s masterpieces in Shakespeare to Winehouse.
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The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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