Flagmen of Lowestoft: Vice-Admiral Sir Christopher Myngs (1625-1666)

A three-quarter length portrait to left in a dark brown silk coat with thin strips of gold. The scabbard of his sword hangs on a heavy gold baldric and is in his left hand. The half drawn sword is held in his right hand. The right background consists of rock and foliage and a ship in action appears on the left. He was described by Pepys as a 'very stout man, and a man of great parts, and a most excellent tongue among ordinary men'. In the Second Dutch War he fought as a flag officer at the Battle of Lowestoft in 1665, and the Four Days Fight in 1666. On the fourth day, leading the van, he was heavily engaged with De Liefde when he was shot through the throat. He remained standing on deck impressing the wound with his fingers until he fell, shot again through the neck. He died some days later. The portrait is inscribed 'Sir Christopher Myms'. It was commissioned by HRH the Duke of York, following the Battle of Lowestoft, the first fleet action of the Second Dutch War, and is one of the flagmen portraits following the Battle of Lowestoft, the first fleet action of the Second Dutch War. It was seen by Pepys in Lely's studio and described by him as being begun or finished on 18 April 1666. At the Restoration Lely was appointed Principal Painter to Charles II.
Sir Peter Lely