James I
1603
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1603
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
James I is a 1603 ink by Karel van Mallery, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white engraving shows a serious man in his 30s with a thick beard and mustache. He wears a fancy, ruffled collar and a heavy chain around his neck, looking straight ahead. The background is plain, keeping all focus on his face and clothes. The words around the portrait say he’s "age 37" and name him "James I Roy d’Escosse," which means James I, King of Scotland. The text below is in French, hinting at his intelligence and legacy. Want to see more? Try looking up engraving to learn how artists like this carved detailed images into metal.
