James I of England
Artist: Attributed to John de Critz (Flemish, 1551-1642)
Date: c. 1605
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, Spain
Description
The portrait shows James I , son of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, and Lord Darnley, born in 1566 and who ascended to the throne of Edinburgh the following year. In 1603, after the death of Elizabeth I, he was proclaimed King of England, and this work represents him as such. Unlike his predecessor, he tried to reconcile with Spain by ending the clashes between the two powers. The left hand on the hilt of the sword highlights his status as military head of the kingdom, clashing with the peaceful nature of his policy. This character seems to be reflected in the lightness with which he holds the weapon compared to the firmness with which other more warlike monarchs or captains and generals generally hold it.
The king is shown in full length in a richly decorated room with a cushioned armchair on which rests his jeweled hat. The Royal Collection Trust has identified it as "The Mirror of Britain ", one of the most important in the collection of this king, designed to commemorate the union of the two kingdoms under his rule. His clothes follow the European fashion of the time, with a silver doublet with sleeves decorated with jewels and a cuera, a kind of vest that comes from military attire, sewn with pearls. On his shoulders he wears a bohemian, a hoodless cape with the front edges turned up and lined with a rich fabric. Under the breeches, white stockings and tights highlight the garter on his leg. This, along with the medal of St. George that hangs from his chest, are ceremonial symbols of the Order of the Garter, of great relevance to the English monarchy, as they had a meaning of great political significance.
