James I
1850
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1850
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
James I is a 1850 ink by Unknown 19th Century, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white engraving of a bearded man in a wide-brimmed hat. His collar is high and ruffled, and he holds a small coin in one hand. The background is plain, but the letters around his head spell out "E T H I C" and "V I R T U E" in a circular frame. The tiny cross-hatching lines create the texture of his fur collar and beard. This style was common in old prints to add depth without color. Look up engraving to see how artists built shadows with just lines.
