King James I of England and VI of Scotland
(1566-1625), Reigned Scotland 1567-1625 and England 1603-25Sitter associated with 199 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 in 1603. His commitment to peace and reconciliation balanced religious divisions, and 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.
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Unknown artist
oil on canvas, late 16th century, based on a work of 1574
NPG 63
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Unknown artist
oil on panel, circa 1590
NPG 1188
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Unknown artist
oil on panel, probably early 17th century
NPG 549
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after John De Critz the Elder
oil on panel, early 17th century, based on a work of circa 1606
NPG 548
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Daniel Mytens
oil on canvas, 1621
On display in Room 3 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 109
'The Kings and Queens of England: From the Conquest to Queen Victoria'
by Henry Hering
albumen carte-de-visite photomontage, 1862
NPG Ax131392
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Unknown artist
woodcut, published 1580
NPG D18235
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Unknown artist
woodcut, published 1580
NPG D18322
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
hand-coloured photograph, before 1939 (circa 1590)
NPG D16663
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Thomas de Leu
line engraving, circa 1590-1612
NPG D19815
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Crispijn de Passe the Elder
engraving, published 1598
NPG D20136
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, possibly early 17th century
NPG D25099
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
published by Nicolas de Clerck
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D25100
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, probably 17th century
NPG D25679
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Robert Vaughan
line engraving, probably early to mid 17th century
NPG D25680
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
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Pieter de Jode I
line engraving, early to mid 17th century
NPG D25684
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, probably 17th century
NPG D25685
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
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by C.G.
line engraving, probably early 17th century
NPG D25687
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Crispijn de Passe the Elder
line engraving, probably early 17th century
NPG D25690
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Crispijn de Passe the Elder
line engraving, probably early 17th century
NPG D25691
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Wolfgang Kilian
line engraving, possibly early to mid 17th century
NPG D25694
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 17th century
NPG D25695
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, possibly 17th century
NPG D25696
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 17th century
NPG D25697
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Simon de Passe
line engraving, possibly early to mid 17th century
NPG D25699
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 17th century
NPG D25700
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
possibly by William Faithorne, printed and published by Sir Robert Peake
line engraving, probably early 17th century
NPG D25701
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, probably 17th century
NPG D25703
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
woodcut, probably 17th century
NPG D25705
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, possibly 17th century
NPG D25707
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by C.G., after Unknown artist
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D18180
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Peter Isselburg (Yselburg, Eisselburg), after Unknown artist
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D18182
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D18183
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D18181
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D18184
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Crispijn de Passe the Elder
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D18193
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Crispijn de Passe the Elder
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D18198
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 17th century
NPG D18194
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 17th century
NPG D18195
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D18192
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D18197
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
probably by Johann Jakob Metzger, after A. Bloem
line engraving, 17th century
NPG D18189
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
etching, 17th century
NPG D18227
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Robert Vaughan, after Unknown artist
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D18239
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Robert Vaughan, after Unknown artist
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D18238
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
published by Eberhard Kieser
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D18262
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Jacques Grandhomme (Granthomme), after Unknown artist
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D18254
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Jacques de Fornazeris, after Unknown artist
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D18253
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 17th century
NPG D18252
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 17th century
NPG D18251
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Christoffel van Sichem (Voschem), after Unknown artist
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D18255
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Simon de Passe, after Unknown silversmith
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D18256
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by Simon de Passe, after Unknown silversmith
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D18257
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, early 17th century
NPG D18260
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 17th century
NPG D18261
coins of King James I of England and VI of Scotland (laurel, thistle crown and half laurel)
by Unknown engraver
etching, 17th century
NPG D18245
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Unknown artist
line engraving, 17th century
NPG D18199
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
probably by Johann Jakob Metzger, after A. Bloem
line engraving, 17th century
NPG D18188
Related People
- Anne of Denmark (wife)
- Princess Anne (granddaughter)
- King Charles I (son)
- King Charles II (grandson)
- Charles Lewis (Louis), Elector Palatine (grandson)
- Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley (father)
- Princess Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia and Electress Palatine (daughter)
- Elizabeth, Princess of the Palatinate (granddaughter)
- Frederick Henry, Prince of the Palatinate (grandson)
- Henrietta Anne, Duchess of Orleans (granddaughter)
- Henry, Prince of Wales (son)
- Henry, Duke of Gloucester (grandson)
- King James II (grandson)
- Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox (grandmother)
- Louise Hollandine, Princess Palatine (granddaughter)
- Princess Mary (daughter)
- Mary, Queen of Scots (mother)
- Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange (granddaughter)
- Maurice, Prince Palatine (grandson)
- Prince Rupert, Count Palatine (grandson)
- Princess Sophia (daughter)
- Princess Sophia, Electress of Hanover (granddaughter)
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.