James I, King of England
published 1604
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 14.6 × 9.4 cm (5 3/4 × 3 11/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1950.14.706
Art Historical Context
Behold *James I, King of*, a finely wrought engraving by the renowned Dutch artist Crispijn de Passe I published in 1604 This intimate portrait, measuring just 14.6 × 9.4 cm, captures the newly crowned monarch—James VI of Scotland who ascended the English throne in 1603—during the dawn of the Stuart dynasty. De Passe, a master engraver from Antwerp, was celebrated for his detailed reproductive prints that brought the likenesses of Europe's elite to a wider audience. Engraving as a medium was revolutionary in this era, allowing for precise, reproducible images through incised metal plates. De ...
About the Artist
Crispijn de Passe I
Crispijn de Passe I, born around 1564 in Arnemuiden, Zeeland, emerged as one of the most influential Dutch engravers and print publishers of his era. He relocated to Antwerp as a youth, where he honed his craft amid the city's vibrant printmaking scene, becoming an independent master in the Guild of Saint Luke by 1584–1585. There, he worked as a reproductive engraver, primarily after designs by pr...