James I, King of England [top half]
1551 to 1600
![James I, King of England [top half] by Simon de Passe](https://images.artheonmuseum.org/nga/thumb/james-i-king-of-england-top-half-nga-11745.webp)
Medium
engraving pulled from silver medal engraved by the artist
Dimensions
plate: 5.7 × 4.8 cm (2 1/4 × 1 7/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.9243.a
Art Historical Context
Behold Simon de Passe's exquisite engraving *James I, King of [top half]*, a delicate print pulled from a silver medal meticulously engraved by the artist himself. Dating to the late 16th century (circa 1551–1600), this tiny masterpiece measures just 5.7 × 4.8 cm, showcasing the precision of Renaissance-era printmaking. Housed in the National Gallery Art's Rosenwald Collection (Department CG-E), it exemplifies the classification of prints as a medium for reproducing intricate designs with remarkable fidelity. James I (1566–1625), who ascended the English throne in 1603 as the first Stuart kin...
About the Artist
Simon de Passe · 1590–1647
Simon de Passe (c. 1595–1647), born in Cologne to the renowned Dutch engraver and publisher Crispijn van de Passe the Elder and his wife Magdalene, grew up in a family dynasty of printmakers who had fled Antwerp due to religious persecution as Anabaptists. The second son among five siblings—four of whom became engravers, including brothers Crispijn II and Willem, and sister Magdalena—he trained un...