Willem Wissing was a Dutch artist who came to London in 1676, studied with Sir Peter Lely and effectively took over the business for the seven years between Lely’s death in 1680 and his own in 1687 (aged only thirty one). All the works by Wissing in the Royal Collection date for this period.

This is an autograph repetition of Wissing's portrait of 1685 (RCIN 405644), which was probably painted for James II. Wearing full armour of highly polished steel, with baton of command in hand, the military-minded William III is portrayed as the archetypal commander – serious and authoritative, seemingly with little concern for the frivolities of fashion. It is interesting to notice, however, that his cravat is of the most expensive and fashionable Venetian gros point lace, and he wears a Lesser George (the badge of the Order of the Garter) set with large rose-cut diamonds. In three years he was to depose his father-in-law James II to become William III.

Signed 'W: Wissing. fecit'