Charles I when Prince of Wales
Portrait Miniature
ca. 1613 (painted)
ca. 1613 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
After the childless Elizabeth I (ruled 1558-1603), James I (ruled 1603-1625) offered the nation a hopeful dynastic future. He had a young family: Prince Henry (1594-1612), who was his heir, Prince Charles (1600-1649) and Princess Elizabeth (1596-1662). James embraced portraiture as a way to promote the new Stuart dynasty. During this reign, there was a massive proliferation of miniature portraits of members of the Royal Family.
People
Prince Charles was the second son of James I. He became heir to the throne on 6 November 1612, on the death of his older brother, Henry, Prince of Wales. He was then only 12 years of age. Charles, who had been Duke of York, was invested as Prince of Wales in 1616. He ascended the throne as Charles I in 1625. In 1649, after years of civil war, he was executed by the victorious Parliamentary forces.
This miniature was painted from life by Nicholas Hilliard (possibly born in 1547, died 1619). Prince Charles wears the blue ribbon and Lesser George of the Order of the Garter. An English order of knighthood, the Garter traditionally comprises the Sovereign and 25 Knights Companions. Thie miniature was painted after May 1611, when Charles received the Garter. It could have been painted to celebrate the event. Charles did not have his own court at this date and so sat for Hilliard, his father's limner (an old term for miniaturist).
After the childless Elizabeth I (ruled 1558-1603), James I (ruled 1603-1625) offered the nation a hopeful dynastic future. He had a young family: Prince Henry (1594-1612), who was his heir, Prince Charles (1600-1649) and Princess Elizabeth (1596-1662). James embraced portraiture as a way to promote the new Stuart dynasty. During this reign, there was a massive proliferation of miniature portraits of members of the Royal Family.
People
Prince Charles was the second son of James I. He became heir to the throne on 6 November 1612, on the death of his older brother, Henry, Prince of Wales. He was then only 12 years of age. Charles, who had been Duke of York, was invested as Prince of Wales in 1616. He ascended the throne as Charles I in 1625. In 1649, after years of civil war, he was executed by the victorious Parliamentary forces.
This miniature was painted from life by Nicholas Hilliard (possibly born in 1547, died 1619). Prince Charles wears the blue ribbon and Lesser George of the Order of the Garter. An English order of knighthood, the Garter traditionally comprises the Sovereign and 25 Knights Companions. Thie miniature was painted after May 1611, when Charles received the Garter. It could have been painted to celebrate the event. Charles did not have his own court at this date and so sat for Hilliard, his father's limner (an old term for miniaturist).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Charles I when Prince of Wales (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour on vellum stuck to a playing card with spades at the reverse. The back of the card has been overpainted with bands of opaque pink and green watercolour. |
| Brief description | Portrait miniature of Charles I when Prince of Wales, watercolour on vellum, painted by Nicholas Hilliard, ca. 1613. |
| Physical description | Portrait miniature of Charles I mounted in an ebony frame with five other portraits of the Royal family. Head and shoulders, oval, turned to front. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Content description | Portrait of a young man, oval, head and shoulders, looking to front and wearing a high lace collar and blue ribbon round his neck. |
| Styles | |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
MINIATURES OF THE ROYAL FAMILY Probably framed together 1625-1650 James I's young family, celebrated in this group of miniatures, offered hope of a secure dynasty. Prince Henry, James I's elder son, was a noted patron of artists, who died suddenly aged 18. Miniatures were given as personal gifts and were small enough to be worn to mark a courtier's loyalty.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by George Salting |
| Object history | Provenance: On a label on the back of the frame in which this and 5 other miniatures are framed is written: “Sheriff Hutton Park / 23rd July 1866 / Miniatures by Isaac Oliver / Family of King James 1st/ Leonard Thompson”; George Lowther Thompson, Sheriff HUTTON Park; sold Christie’s 5th July 1894 (lot 65); bequeathed by George Salting, 1911. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type After the childless Elizabeth I (ruled 1558-1603), James I (ruled 1603-1625) offered the nation a hopeful dynastic future. He had a young family: Prince Henry (1594-1612), who was his heir, Prince Charles (1600-1649) and Princess Elizabeth (1596-1662). James embraced portraiture as a way to promote the new Stuart dynasty. During this reign, there was a massive proliferation of miniature portraits of members of the Royal Family. People Prince Charles was the second son of James I. He became heir to the throne on 6 November 1612, on the death of his older brother, Henry, Prince of Wales. He was then only 12 years of age. Charles, who had been Duke of York, was invested as Prince of Wales in 1616. He ascended the throne as Charles I in 1625. In 1649, after years of civil war, he was executed by the victorious Parliamentary forces. This miniature was painted from life by Nicholas Hilliard (possibly born in 1547, died 1619). Prince Charles wears the blue ribbon and Lesser George of the Order of the Garter. An English order of knighthood, the Garter traditionally comprises the Sovereign and 25 Knights Companions. Thie miniature was painted after May 1611, when Charles received the Garter. It could have been painted to celebrate the event. Charles did not have his own court at this date and so sat for Hilliard, his father's limner (an old term for miniaturist). |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | P.150-1910 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
