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Anne of Denmark, Queen of James I

Miniature
ca. 1603 (made)
Artist/Maker

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
Anne of Denmark (1574-1619) was Queen of James I and daughter of Frederick II of Denmark and Norway (ruled 1559-1588). She married James VI of Scotland in 1589. In 1603, when he became James I of England, she was crowned with him at Windsor, Berkshire. She took a great interest in court entertainments, and personally appeared in court masques created by the playwright Ben Jonson (1572-1637).

This miniature is a version of a standard portrait type of Anne of Denmark, which was repeated in other versions in miniature by either Nicholas Hilliard (possibly born in 1547, died 1619) or Isaac Oliver (born about 1558, died 1617). Oliver was appointed Anne's limner (an early term for a miniature painter) in 1604. It is not known, however, whether it was Hilliard or Oliver who had the sitting with Anne that led to this type. The Queen is portrayed in a low-cut dress, standing collar and high dressed hair set with jewels. In some versions, her right hand extends across her bosom. This portrait is is closer to Hilliard's type than to Oliver's.

Object details

Category
Object type
TitleAnne of Denmark, Queen of James I (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour on vellum, with frame of ebony on oak
Brief description
Anne of Denmark
Dimensions
  • Frame height: 27.5cm
  • Frame width: 19.4cm
  • Frame depth: 2.7cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 23/04/1999 by DW
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
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.



Painted in the studios of Nicholas Hilliard (born in Exeter, Devon, possibly 1547, died in London, 1619) and Isaac Oliver (born about 1558-1568 possibly in Rouen, France, died in London, 1617)
Credit line
The Salting Bequest
Object history
Possibly painted by Nicholas Hilliard
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
Anne of Denmark (1574-1619) was Queen of James I and daughter of Frederick II of Denmark and Norway (ruled 1559-1588). She married James VI of Scotland in 1589. In 1603, when he became James I of England, she was crowned with him at Windsor, Berkshire. She took a great interest in court entertainments, and personally appeared in court masques created by the playwright Ben Jonson (1572-1637).

This miniature is a version of a standard portrait type of Anne of Denmark, which was repeated in other versions in miniature by either Nicholas Hilliard (possibly born in 1547, died 1619) or Isaac Oliver (born about 1558, died 1617). Oliver was appointed Anne's limner (an early term for a miniature painter) in 1604. It is not known, however, whether it was Hilliard or Oliver who had the sitting with Anne that led to this type. The Queen is portrayed in a low-cut dress, standing collar and high dressed hair set with jewels. In some versions, her right hand extends across her bosom. This portrait is is closer to Hilliard's type than to Oliver's.
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.148-1910

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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