James I (1566-1625)
Portrait Miniature
1612-1614 (made)
1612-1614 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Miniatures were particularly suited to representations of the monarchy. They offered a precious image of the King that was small enough to be awarded personally by him in a public ceremony, They could be worn to mark the King's favour and the courtier's loyalty.
People
When James VI of Scotland (ruled 1567-1625) became James I of England in 1603, he offered the nation the security of unquestioned dynastic roots. His mother, Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587), was a great granddaughter of Henry VII of England (ruled 1485-1509). He offered a hopeful dynastic future in the form of his young heir, Prince Henry (1594-1612); he also had a marriageable daughter, Princess Elizabeth (1596-1662). James embraced the miniature portrait as a way of promoting the new Stuart dynasty.
Nicholas Hilliard (possibly born in 1547, died 1619) had painted many miniatures of Elizabeth I, but did not seem to enjoy producing miniatures of the new King. James I was less physically attractive than his predecessor. He also disliked sitting for his portrait. Hilliard probably had only a few sittings with the King between his accession in 1603 and his own death in 1619. From these original miniatures Hilliard was expected to produce endless repetitions for the King to give away as gifts. Many of these are of poor quality. They are either by a very uninspired Hilliard or, as in this case, probably by an assistant.
Miniatures were particularly suited to representations of the monarchy. They offered a precious image of the King that was small enough to be awarded personally by him in a public ceremony, They could be worn to mark the King's favour and the courtier's loyalty.
People
When James VI of Scotland (ruled 1567-1625) became James I of England in 1603, he offered the nation the security of unquestioned dynastic roots. His mother, Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587), was a great granddaughter of Henry VII of England (ruled 1485-1509). He offered a hopeful dynastic future in the form of his young heir, Prince Henry (1594-1612); he also had a marriageable daughter, Princess Elizabeth (1596-1662). James embraced the miniature portrait as a way of promoting the new Stuart dynasty.
Nicholas Hilliard (possibly born in 1547, died 1619) had painted many miniatures of Elizabeth I, but did not seem to enjoy producing miniatures of the new King. James I was less physically attractive than his predecessor. He also disliked sitting for his portrait. Hilliard probably had only a few sittings with the King between his accession in 1603 and his own death in 1619. From these original miniatures Hilliard was expected to produce endless repetitions for the King to give away as gifts. Many of these are of poor quality. They are either by a very uninspired Hilliard or, as in this case, probably by an assistant.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | James I (1566-1625) (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour on vellum, with frame of ebony on oak |
| Brief description | Nicholas Hilliard, Portrait of James I. This miniature is one of six portraits of James I and his family mounted in one frame: James I; Anne of Denmark; Henry, Prince of Wales; Prince Charles, later Charles I; Frederick, Elector Palatine and later King of Bohemia, son-in-law of James I; Elizabeth of Bohemia, daughter of James I. (see entries for P.147-152-1910). |
| Physical description | Portrait miniature |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label |
|
| Credit line | The Salting Bequest |
| Object history | Painted in the London studio of Nicholas Hilliard |
| Summary | Object Type Miniatures were particularly suited to representations of the monarchy. They offered a precious image of the King that was small enough to be awarded personally by him in a public ceremony, They could be worn to mark the King's favour and the courtier's loyalty. People When James VI of Scotland (ruled 1567-1625) became James I of England in 1603, he offered the nation the security of unquestioned dynastic roots. His mother, Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587), was a great granddaughter of Henry VII of England (ruled 1485-1509). He offered a hopeful dynastic future in the form of his young heir, Prince Henry (1594-1612); he also had a marriageable daughter, Princess Elizabeth (1596-1662). James embraced the miniature portrait as a way of promoting the new Stuart dynasty. Nicholas Hilliard (possibly born in 1547, died 1619) had painted many miniatures of Elizabeth I, but did not seem to enjoy producing miniatures of the new King. James I was less physically attractive than his predecessor. He also disliked sitting for his portrait. Hilliard probably had only a few sittings with the King between his accession in 1603 and his own death in 1619. From these original miniatures Hilliard was expected to produce endless repetitions for the King to give away as gifts. Many of these are of poor quality. They are either by a very uninspired Hilliard or, as in this case, probably by an assistant. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic reference | Graham Reynolds, 'Portraits by Nicholas Hilliard and his Assistants of King James I and his Family', The Volume of the Walpole Society, vol. 34, 1952, pp. 14–26 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | P.147-1910 |
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
