Cromwell gazing at the body of Charles I

The scene depicted here is meant to have taken place shortly after the execution of the King on 30 January 1649, although it is unlikely that it did in fact occur. Inside a darkly-lit interior, Oliver Cromwell lifts the lid of the coffin and seems to be contemplating the dead body of Charles I inside.

Despite being a poor copy of the original painting by the French artist Delaroche, this picture illustrates the fashion for contemporary history painting in England and the interest generated by the Civil War. This painting forms part of the Tangye collection at the Museum, which contains about a thousand items all related - directly or indirectly - to Cromwell.