Travel back in time to The World of King James VI and I

A special, one-off exhibition opens at the Portrait gallery in Edinburgh this Saturday (26 April), charting the remarkable reign of King James VI and I.

Article Source: National Galleries of Scotland
Last Updated: 24 April 2025 13:05

Marking the 400-year anniversary of his death, visitors can explore over 140 rare objects, many displayed together for the first time. Tickets are on sale now.

The World of King James VI and I takes a fascinating journey through the complex life of a king who changed the shape of the United Kingdom. Open until 14 September 2025, uncover more about this often-misunderstood monarch through ornate paintings, dazzling jewels, lavish textiles, and rare book and manuscripts, alongside some of the most iconic historical portraits from Scotland’s national collection.

This is the first exhibition dedicated to King James VI and I to be held in Edinburgh in 50 years and the only opportunity to see The World of King James VI and I anywhere in the world. The exhibition features several important loans from a range of galleries and private collections from across the UK, including National Museums Scotland, The Royal Collection Trust, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Fashion Museum Bath. This includes a variety of books, prints, clothing, jewellery, and objects, creating an immersive journey through King James’s world.

Thanks to a collaborative research project funded by The University of Edinburgh, visitors to the exhibition can be immersed in the sounds, sights and even the smell of King James’s world. In collaboration with Dr Catriona Murray (The University of Edinburgh) and the historic scent designer Clara Weale, a bespoke scent has been created especially for The World of King James VI and I. Inspired by a 17th-century apothecary list, also on display, this unique aspect of the exhibition allows visitors to experience the smell of the Jacobean court.

Son of Mary, Queen of Scots, successor to Elizabeth I and the first monarch to rule over Scotland, England and Ireland, King James was born in Edinburgh Castle on 19 June 1566 during one of the most turbulent periods in Scottish history. Following his mother’s forced abdication in 1567, James was crowned king of Scotland at just 13 months old. Religious reform and noble power struggles dominated his early reign, however his accession to the English throne in 1603 saw him become the uniter of kingdoms.

Discover tales of friendship, family, feuds and ambition and dive deeper into the life of King James through key moments in his reign including his early childhood, the infamous Scottish witch trials, the Union of the Crowns, the treasonous Gunpowder Plot and early colonial ventures overseas. This exhibition not only brings King James’s story to life, but transports visitors into the world in which he lived and ruled, celebrating craft, visual arts, literature and performance from the 16th and 17th centuries. The World of King James VI and I offers new perspectives on the King’s life by drawing on themes of contemporary relevance including national identity, queer histories and spirituality and belief. Meet some of the most famous faces of the period through key artworks from Scotland’s national collection. Uncover more about his family ties and his closest confidants, and see striking portraits of Mary, Queen of Scots, his wife and Queen Consort, Anna of Denmark, and his father, Henry, Lord Darnley. Accompany James as he grows from an orphaned boy king to established ruler of nations through a range of portraits and objects which document his life, loves and achievements.

The exhibition gives visitors the rare opportunity to view objects that were owned, or associated with King James, including books from his library and gifts he presented to his favourites, such as an intricate silver watch and a 17th-century penknife believed to have belonged to his son, Prince Henry Frederick. Skillfully hand-painted manuscripts by the Edinburgh-based writer and artist Esther Inglis, which were dedicated to the king and members of the court, are on display for the first time. The first known letter written by King James, when he was just seven years old, is also included in the exhibition. In the letter the King thanks his guardian's wife, the Countess of Mar, for sending him fruit.

Embrace the pageantry and ceremony of the Jacobean court through sumptuous dress, jewellery, objects and designs from the 16th and 17th centuries. Come up close to original textiles, including a beautifully constructed ladies' waistcoat on loan from the Fashion Museum in Bath. Embroidered with delicate flowers and adorned with ribbon fasteners, this stunning example of courtly fashion brings to life the lavish outfits depicted in the portraits on display.

The impressive Eglington Jewel (1610), on loan from The Fitzwilliam Museum, also features in the exhibition alongside related artworks. A rare surviving example of work by Edinburgh jeweller George Heriot, it comprises of a miniature portrait of Anna of Denmark enclosed in a crimson enamel case and adorned with the Queen’s initials set in diamonds beneath an imperial crown. Visitors have the unique opportunity to view this exquisite jewel alongside a portrait of Lady Anne Livingstone, Countess of Eglinton (1612) in which she can be seen wearing it.

Delve into the belief system in Scotland during a time where spirituality, healing and folklore were entwined with strict religious views. The World of King James VI and I includes an early example of the revolutionary King James Bible, on loan from the National Library of Scotland. The King ordered a new translation of the Bible in 1604, with the version on display dating to 1611. Along with his deeply religious beliefs James was very superstitious and fixated on the occult, particularly the perceived practice of witchcraft. His beliefs lead him to become instrumental in the origins of the Scottish witch trials. Amongst a variety of objects related to witchcraft will be an original copy of Daemonologie (1597), also from the National Library of Scotland. This book was written by King James himself and documented the evils of Satan and the covens of witches who acted on his behalf. Daemonologie would go on to set a standard for identifying and persecuting thousands of people, mostly women, as witches, causing lasting notoriety to King James’s legacy.

Travel across the seas to explore James and his government’s reach into North America and East Asia in the 17th century as the exhibition uncovers Jacobean trading ventures and early colonisation projects. The establishment of the first British colony on North American soil took place under James’s reign. In May 1607 the king granted a warrant to The Virginia Company and The Virginia Colony was founded on the indigenous lands of the Powhatan people called Tsenacommacah. The colony base was named ‘Jamestown’ in the King’s honour. These colonial projects and settlements lead to the displacement and objectification of many indigenous peoples. Artworks and objects on display include a print of the Powhatan woman Pocahontas, loaned by The British Museum. Taken captive by the English colonists when hostilities between the Powhatans and the settlers escalated into conflict, Pocahontas was converted to Christianity and married to an English tobacco merchant John Rolfe. Pocahontas and Rolfe travelled from Virginia to England in 1617. The print shows Pocahontas aged 21, dressed in Jacobean fashions, which she may have worn when she was presented at court to King James and Queen Anna. Pocahontas died in England and is buried in the cemetery of St George’s Church in Gravesend, Kent.

Experience the great loves and relationships that influenced King James’s time as monarch, from his marriage to Anna of Denmark, to his role as a father to Prince Henry Frederick, Princess Elizabeth and the future King Charles I. The exhibition sheds light on the King’s own identity and his role within contemporary queer culture, through exploring his relationships with his court favourites. Personal letters and portraits spotlight King James’s inner circle and favoured courtiers, including George Villers, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Robert Kerr, 1st Earl of Somerset, with whom he established close, intimate relationships and who harnessed great influence over his reign.

Kate Anderson, Senior Curator of Portraiture at the National Galleries of Scotland said: “We’re so excited to bring the world of King James VI & I to life for our visitors. The wide range of material in the exhibition comes together to illustrate the visually and materially rich world that the King lived in. The artworks and objects on display give us the unique opportunity to delve into King James’s life and reign and uncover the people, places and events that shaped him. From impressive portraits to tiny jewels and exquisite embroidered textiles, the exhibition also gives visitors insight into the highly skilled work produced by the artists and craftspeople who were working in Scotland and England in the Jacobean period.”

The World of King James VI and I at the Portrait gallery in Edinburgh is a unique exhibition experience, painting famous historical figures in a new light and connecting the people of the past with the people of today. The exhibition is yours to discover at National Galleries Scotland: Portrait from Saturday 26 April 2025.

Tickets on sale now: https://www.nationalgalleries.org/tickets/73251

Image credit: Neil Hanna

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