King Charles II greeting his sister, Henrietta, Duchess of Orleans. Etching and engraving by W. Bromley, 1804, after T. Stothard.

The subject appears to be the visit by Henrietta, Duchess of Orleans, to England on 26 May 1670: she arrived in Dover and stayed there until 1 June, negotiating with her brother Charles II a treaty by which Charles and King Louis XIV of France (her brother-in-law) would become allies against the Dutch. The public form of the treaty was signed on 1 June, but the "Secret treaty of Dover", including Charles's conversion to Roman Catholicism, was not revealed until some time after the date of this engraving

Left, Charles with two women, one of them being Henrietta and the other unidentified. Right, four men, one of whom resembles the Duke of York (subsequently King James II). The others may be members of the Cabal Ministry. Far left, people escorting Henrietta from France

[London] (Historic Gallery, Pall Mall) : Published by R. Bowyer, June 1804.

1 print : engraving, with etching, en chine ; platemark 48.7 x 34.7, image 31 x 22.1 cm

Charles II receiving the D.ss of Orleans at Dover. T. Stothard pinx.t. ; W. Bromley sculp.t

Wellcome Collection 3224206i