Sneaky's Daily Did You Know....? - Unhappy Endings

Following his unsuccessful attempt to snatch the English crown, James, Duke of Monmouth, illegitamate son of Charles II was beheaded in 1685.

But after the execution, the Keeper of the King's Pictures realised there was no official portrait of Monmouth.

So the decapitated head was stitched back on and the dead Duke was placed in a chair to have his portrait painted by artist Sir Godfrey Kneller.