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Shield of James I [bottom half]

Simon van de Passe

1621

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Baroque

Dominant colour

Shield of James I [bottom half] 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 engraving of a fancy shield and crown. The shield has four smaller squares with different symbols—one looks like a lion, another has a cross, and the others have strange shapes. Around the shield are two men’s faces, one with a beard and one with a crown. The words "SHIELD OF JAMES I" are written at the bottom, and the edges are decorated with swirls and leaves. This was made as part of a medal, not just a drawing. The artist used fine lines and shading to make it look three-dimensional. Check out engraving to see how artists like this create detailed prints.