The Baptism of Prince Charles Edward Stuart

This monumental painting marks the baptism of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, Stuart heir to the thrones of Great Britain and Ireland. The newborn baby was described as “large and well-made” and his birth on 31 December 1720, caused great rejoicing. Later that evening Charles was baptised in accordance with the rites of the Roman Catholic Church by the Bishop of Montefiascone, in the queen’s chapel in the royal palace. Pope Clement XI, the queen’s godfather, ordered the cannons of Castel Sant’Angelo to be fired, and Jacobites claimed that a new star had appeared in the sky. James commissioned this huge painting in 1725, the year Charles was rebaptised by the Pope and the year his second son, Henry, was born. Charles is shown in the arms of his first governess, Lady Misset.