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James I of England

Simon van de Passe

1621

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Baroque Portrait

Dominant colour

James I 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 fancy clothes. He wears a wide-brimmed hat and a heavy fur collar. Around his shoulders is a chain with a big pendant. The background has a crown and scrolling words like *"Fidelis Rex"* and *"Potentissimus."* The text at the bottom calls him *"King of great Britaine"* and mentions *"Defendos of the Faith."* This looks like a formal royal portrait, not just a regular drawing. If you like this style, check out the technique: engraving.