1-191-466 - © London Museum/Heritage-Images

'Charles I after his Execution with his Head Stitched on', 1660s. The dead Charles I is shown with stitches joining his head back on to his body, after his public beheading outside the Banqueting House, Whitehall, London, on 30th January 1649. It is not clear whether this gruesome reconstruction is based on fact, but the king is shown here with dark hair where in reality he had gone grey by this time. The elaborate lace collar which he would have worn has been dispensed with because of the need to show his neck. The combination of the posthumous portrait with three allegorical figures makes for a rather incongruous composition. The lamenting women with revealing necklines represent England, Scotland and Wales.