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.
