Historian and author Sacha Coward takes a deep dive into the fascinating queer narratives hidden within our Collection.
This time, we’re looking at John de Critz the Elder's portrait of King James VI & I (1606)—a ruler whose personal life has sparked much debate.
Nicknamed the King of Bling and even Queen James, James had an undeniable affection for his male “favourites,” most notably George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. Their relationship was marked by deep intimacy, sparking gossip and controversy at court.
The painting also tells us a lot about how James wanted to be seen. He was deeply insecure about his stature and appearance. His portraits, like this one, were carefully crafted to make him seem taller, grander, and more imposing.
Watch as Sacha unpacks the hidden LGBTQ+ history behind this regal painting and the intriguing life of King James VI & I.
The painting behind me is by John de Critz, and it is a portrait painted around 1606. It is a painting of King James I. He also had a few nicknames, and today some people refer to him as the “King of Bling.” Back then, people would even call him “Queen James.” In his lifetime, he had a real affection for a number of men in his inner circle—they were known as his favorites. In particular, a certain George Villiers.
Now, these favorites were probably not just friends—the intimacy went beyond this. He tended to favor handsome men and give them lots of access to his personal life, which many people frowned upon. People were a little nervous about how close the King was to his favorites. Some even say that George Villiers had a secret passageway that allowed him to get into the bedchambers of King James.
The “bling” side of things? Well, you can see it a little bit in the painting. He loved his jewelry and decoration. He was actually a rather insecure man. So many kings and queens get portraits painted to look powerful and in charge. In particular, James was nervous about his stature—he thought he was a little weedy, and also his height. So his paintings are largely trying to make him look larger and taller.
A really interesting figure—arguably one of the most explored kings or queens from an LGBTQ+ perspective.