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King James I of England and VI of Scotland (1566-1625), Reigned, Scotland from 1567, England 1603-25

Sitter associated with 196 portraits
The son of Mary, Queen of Scots and Lord Darnley, James was crowned King of Scotland in 1567, at the age of one on the abdication of his mother, and the country was run until his majority by a succession of Protestant Regents. He succeeded Elizabeth I of England in 1603. He successfully held the three kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland together under one ruler for the first time. Intelligent and scholarly, his greatest act of cultural patronage was probably the 'King James' translation of the Bible (1611). James’s financial incompetence and his devotion to a succession of male favourites fuelled his critics, particularly after his death.

List Thumbnail

63

King James I of England and VI of Scotland

by Unknown artist
oil on canvas, late 16th century (1574)
On display at Montacute House
NPG 63

1188

King James I of England and VI of Scotland

by Unknown artist
oil on panel, circa 1590
NPG 1188

549

King James I of England and VI of Scotland

by Unknown artist
oil on panel, probably early 17th century
NPG 549

548

King James I of England and VI of Scotland

after John De Critz the Elder
oil on panel, early 17th century (circa 1606)
On display in Room 5 at Montacute House
NPG 548

109

King James I of England and VI of Scotland

by Daniel Mytens
oil on canvas, 1621
On display in Room 4 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 109

Ax131392

'The Kings and Queens of England: From the Conquest to Queen Victoria'

by Henry Hering
albumen carte-de-visite photomontage, 1862
NPG Ax131392

D18235

King James I of England and VI of Scotland

by Unknown artist
woodcut, published 1580
NPG D18235

D18322

King James I of England and VI of Scotland

by Unknown artist
woodcut, published 1580
NPG D18322

D16663

King James I of England and VI of Scotland

after Unknown artist
hand-coloured photograph, before 1939 (circa 1590)
NPG D16663

D19815

King James I of England and VI of Scotland

by Thomas de Leu
line engraving, circa 1590-1612
NPG D19815

D20136

King James I of England and VI of Scotland

by Crispijn de Passe the Elder
engraving, published 1598
NPG D20136

D25099

King James I of England and VI of Scotland

after Unknown artist
line engraving, possibly early 17th century
NPG D25099

D25679

King James I of England and VI of Scotland

after Unknown artist
line engraving, probably 17th century
NPG D25679

D25680

King James I of England and VI of Scotland

by Robert Vaughan
line engraving, probably early to mid 17th century
NPG D25680

D25681

King James I of England and VI of Scotland

printed and published by Peter Stent
line engraving, probably early to mid 17th century
NPG D25681

D25684

King James I of England and VI of Scotland

by Pieter de Jode I
line engraving, early to mid 17th century
NPG D25684

D25686

King James I of England and VI of Scotland and Anne of Denmark

by Renold or Reginold Elstrack (Elstracke)
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D25686

D25687

King James I of England and VI of Scotland

by C.G.
line engraving, probably early 17th century
NPG D25687

D25690

King James I of England and VI of Scotland

by Crispijn de Passe the Elder
line engraving, probably early 17th century
NPG D25690

D25691

King James I of England and VI of Scotland

by Crispijn de Passe the Elder
line engraving, probably early 17th century
NPG D25691

Links
Banqueting House, Whitehall, London
Holdenby House & Gardens, Holdenby, Northamptonshire
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Category
Royalty, Rulers and Aristocracy
Groups
Monarchs
Places
Edinburgh
Hertfordshire
Northamptonshire