Charles, Prince of Wales, later Charles I
Medallion
1616 (made)
1616 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Small portraits like these were often hung from ribbons and worn as personal decoration. Painted miniatures were common in England and royal personages sometimes gave them to favoured courtiers. Producing silver medallions such as these was a contemporary Dutch practice that was adopted in England. This plaque is approximately the same size as the portraits of Anne of Denmark and the Infanta Maria and may have been made as part of a set.
People
Charles (1600-1649) was the son of James I (ruled 1603-1625) and Anne of Denmark (1574-1619). He was crowned in 1625 but his reign was turbulent. He was tried after the Civil War of 1642-1646 and executed in 1649. In this medallion however, he is shown whilst still Prince of Wales.
Simon de Passe (possibly born in 1595, died 1647) was born in Cologne and worked as an engraver in Utrecht in The Netherlands. He spent some time in Copenhagen working for Anne of Denmark's brother Christian IV, King of Denmark-Norway (ruled 1588-1648). In England he received orders from James I to produce a series of portrait medallions in silver, perhaps as gifts for favoured courtiers.
Materials & Making
There is some discussion as to how these medals were made. The fact that a number of copies exist has led some scholars to suggest that they were cast from a mould. Close examination shows, however, that there are small differences between them. One possibility is that they were partly cast and then engraved. It is impossible to determine exactly how they were made without analysing the structure of the metal, which would risk damaging them.
Small portraits like these were often hung from ribbons and worn as personal decoration. Painted miniatures were common in England and royal personages sometimes gave them to favoured courtiers. Producing silver medallions such as these was a contemporary Dutch practice that was adopted in England. This plaque is approximately the same size as the portraits of Anne of Denmark and the Infanta Maria and may have been made as part of a set.
People
Charles (1600-1649) was the son of James I (ruled 1603-1625) and Anne of Denmark (1574-1619). He was crowned in 1625 but his reign was turbulent. He was tried after the Civil War of 1642-1646 and executed in 1649. In this medallion however, he is shown whilst still Prince of Wales.
Simon de Passe (possibly born in 1595, died 1647) was born in Cologne and worked as an engraver in Utrecht in The Netherlands. He spent some time in Copenhagen working for Anne of Denmark's brother Christian IV, King of Denmark-Norway (ruled 1588-1648). In England he received orders from James I to produce a series of portrait medallions in silver, perhaps as gifts for favoured courtiers.
Materials & Making
There is some discussion as to how these medals were made. The fact that a number of copies exist has led some scholars to suggest that they were cast from a mould. Close examination shows, however, that there are small differences between them. One possibility is that they were partly cast and then engraved. It is impossible to determine exactly how they were made without analysing the structure of the metal, which would risk damaging them.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Charles, Prince of Wales, later Charles I (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Silver, engraved |
| Brief description | Charles, Prince of Wales |
| Physical description | Plaque, Charles Prince of Wales |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | Signed 'Si pas fe' |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
PORTRAIT MEDALLIONS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY James I probably commissioned these portrait medallions as gifts for favoured courtiers. Although the custom of presenting painted miniatures of the royal image was long-established in England, wearing silver portraits suspended on ribbons was a Dutch practice. The Infanta Maria of Austria appears in this group because, at the time it was made, a marriage between her and Charles, Prince of Wales was being negotiated.(27/03/2003) |
| Object history | Made in London by Simon van de Passe (born in Cologne, Germany, possibly in 1595, died in Copenhagen, 1647) |
| Summary | Object Type Small portraits like these were often hung from ribbons and worn as personal decoration. Painted miniatures were common in England and royal personages sometimes gave them to favoured courtiers. Producing silver medallions such as these was a contemporary Dutch practice that was adopted in England. This plaque is approximately the same size as the portraits of Anne of Denmark and the Infanta Maria and may have been made as part of a set. People Charles (1600-1649) was the son of James I (ruled 1603-1625) and Anne of Denmark (1574-1619). He was crowned in 1625 but his reign was turbulent. He was tried after the Civil War of 1642-1646 and executed in 1649. In this medallion however, he is shown whilst still Prince of Wales. Simon de Passe (possibly born in 1595, died 1647) was born in Cologne and worked as an engraver in Utrecht in The Netherlands. He spent some time in Copenhagen working for Anne of Denmark's brother Christian IV, King of Denmark-Norway (ruled 1588-1648). In England he received orders from James I to produce a series of portrait medallions in silver, perhaps as gifts for favoured courtiers. Materials & Making There is some discussion as to how these medals were made. The fact that a number of copies exist has led some scholars to suggest that they were cast from a mould. Close examination shows, however, that there are small differences between them. One possibility is that they were partly cast and then engraved. It is impossible to determine exactly how they were made without analysing the structure of the metal, which would risk damaging them. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 961-1904 |
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| Record created | April 30, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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