James I, King of England

Crispijn de Passe I

National Gallery of Art

The portrait shows an upper body view of a man facing forward with a slight turn to the left. He has an elongated face with distinct facial features, including a pointed beard and a moustache, and he is wearing a tall hat adorned with a decorative band and a plume. His hair is neatly styled, shoulder-length, and light in color. The man is dressed in an ornate outfit featuring a high-collared, buttoned jacket beneath a lavish fur-trimmed cloak. Surrounding him is an oval border with Latin text, and beyond it are decorative elements including a crown, a sword, and a book, alongside two heraldic lion figures on either side, one holding a scepter and the other a banner. The background of the image is intricate, filled with various symbolic elements and bordered with further text at both the top and bottom.