James I, King of England/James VI of Scotland
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Accession Number
NPG.77.43.26
Tags
Art Historical Context
This 1618 print by Simon van de Passe captures King James I of England, also James VI of Scotland, during a pivotal era when he ruled both following the 1603 union of the crowns. As a widely circulated portrait, the work helped shape the public image of a monarch who promoted peace abroad and supported the arts at home, including the translation of the King James Bible. Van de Passe, a skilled Dutch engraver working in England, used precise line work typical of early modern printmaking to render the king in regal attire. The image features a prominent ruff collar, feathered hat, scepter, and ...