File:Johann Baptiste Bouttats - The Arrival of Charles II at The Hague, 15 May 1660.jpg

English: The Arrival of Charles II at The Hague, 15 May 1660 This painting interprets the events leading to the Restoration of Charles II. It shows the process of disembarkation by Charles II when he arrived at "Aranien liank",^[1] The Hague to be greeted by courtiers in the foreground to the right of the picture. Charles subsequently embarked for England at Scheveningen in the 'Naseby', which he renamed the 'Royal Charles'. Houses line the picture to the left, with the towers of Rotterdam visible in the distance. The harbour to the right includes the ship from which he disembarked and one ship is shown firing a salute. There is a line of coaches and mounted riders, and the advance into the city was led by mounted soldiers. Soldiers also line the route to the right, and some are shown firing a salute. The ordinary people in the crowd have also been included and in the foreground to the right a milkmaid has spilt her pail. She admonishes some boys but does not see others behind preparing to unhitch the rest of her yoke. Dogs frisking in the foreground to the right emphasise that this is an occasion of celebration. The painting is apparently based on prints and not contemporary with the event. The title of the work together with the British royal arms have been placed at the top in the centre, and the artist has signed and dated the picture, 'I.B. / Bouttats / 1738', on a quay stone, bottom right. Bouttats was born about 1680 in the Netherlands and came to England in the 1720s, settling in Hull then York. One of his sons stayed in Hull and another moved to London as a picture dealer. He died in 1743 so this is a relatively late example.