Anne of Denmark (1574-1619) Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland, consort of James VI and I

Location

Country: Denmark
City: Copenhagen
Place: British Embassy

This is one of several examples of a portrait type depicting Anne of Denmark, Queen consort of King James VI and I. Other portraits of the same type are at Ipswich Museum and in the Colonial Williamsburg Collection, Virginia. They relate to an engraved portrait in John Jonston’s 1602 publication 'Inscriptions Historicae Regum Scotorum', which includes a similar pattern of dress and hairstyle. The engraving is probably based on a painting, so portraits of this type could date from before Anne’s coronation in 1603.

However, it has also been suggested that this portrait type relates to works by John de Critz (died 1642), such as a full-length portrait now in the collection at Loseley Park, Surrey. De Critz was appointed a court painter to James VI and I from his accession in 1603 and established a facial pattern for Anne, which was used in subsequent depictions by other artists until a work by Marcus Gheeraerts the younger (1611-14; Woburn Abbey) superseded the de Critz pattern.

People

Anne of Denmark (1574 - 1619)

Places

Subjects

royal portrait, Danish, woman, 17th century costume, ruff, necklace, brooch, earring, pearls, wife, King, Queen Consort

Materials & Techniques

panel, oil, oil painting

Artist

16th - 17th century unknown

Title

Anne of Denmark (1574-1619) Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland, consort of James VI and I

Date

c.1595-1603

Medium

Oil on panel

Dimensions

height: 65.50 cm, width: 49.50 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Christie's, 20 April 1956

Inscription

tr: ANNA.D.G.MG. / BRITAN.REGINA.

Provenance

With Leggatt Bros.; by whom sold through Christie’s, London, on 20 April 1956 (Lot 63), as by Somer; from which sale purchased by the Ministry of Works

GAC number

3541