James I
1551 to 1600
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 30 × 22.1 cm (11 13/16 × 8 11/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1951.11.60
Art Historical Context
This exquisite engraving, titled *James I* and created after the Flemish artist Hieronymus Wierix (1553–1619), dates to the late16th century (1551–1600). Wierix, part of Antwerp's renowned family of engr, was celebrated for his intricate reproductive prints that faithfully captured designs by leading painters. Measuring 30 × 22.1 cm, this work likely depicts James VI of Scotland (later James I of England, r. 1567–1625) during his early reign, showcasing the period's fascination with royal portraiture to assert authority and lineage. Engraving, the medium here, was a revolutionary technique in...