Plaque
1616-1620 (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.
People
James I (1566-1625) was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots (ruled 1542-67, died 1587) and Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (1545-1567). He became James VI of Scotland in 1567 at the age of 13 months and acceded to the English throne in 1603, on the death of Elizabeth I. This medal was made between 1616 and 1619. He is shown wearing the Collar of the Order of the Garter but without a crown.
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. However, if they are examined closely, 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.
People
James I (1566-1625) was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots (ruled 1542-67, died 1587) and Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (1545-1567). He became James VI of Scotland in 1567 at the age of 13 months and acceded to the English throne in 1603, on the death of Elizabeth I. This medal was made between 1616 and 1619. He is shown wearing the Collar of the Order of the Garter but without a crown.
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. However, if they are examined closely, 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 | |
| Materials and techniques | Engraved silver |
| Brief description | King James |
| Physical description | Plaque, King James I |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| 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) |
| Subject depicted | |
| 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. People James I (1566-1625) was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots (ruled 1542-67, died 1587) and Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (1545-1567). He became James VI of Scotland in 1567 at the age of 13 months and acceded to the English throne in 1603, on the death of Elizabeth I. This medal was made between 1616 and 1619. He is shown wearing the Collar of the Order of the Garter but without a crown. 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. However, if they are examined closely, 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 | 960-1904 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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