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James I, King of England

Simon van de Passe

1621

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Baroque Portrait

Dominant colour

James I, King of England is a 1621 ink by Simon van de Passe, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Simon van de Passe
When & what style?: 1621 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a bearded man in a wide-brimmed hat. His collar is ruffled and fancy, with a chain draped across his chest. The background is plain, focusing all attention on his face and clothes. The image is an engraving, meaning it was etched into metal and printed. That’s why the lines look sharp and precise, almost like a sketch pressed onto paper. Look up engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints.