Shield of James I, Anne of Denmark, and Prince Charles

Van de Passe employed fine cross-hatching and precise line work to model form and texture, mimicking the relief of a struck medal. The engraving’s symmetry and clarity reflect Renaissance ideals of order and balance. Despite being a reproductive print, the work retains the precision of original medal engraving, with delicate tonal gradations achieved through controlled ink density and line density rather than shading.

Commissioned in 1621, the original silver medal was likely distributed to dignitaries or used as a diplomatic gift. Van de Passe, a Dutch engraver working in England, produced this print to disseminate the royal image more widely. The engraving survives in several institutional collections, suggesting its use in courtly circles and among collectors interested in royal iconography during the Jacobean era.

This print emerged during a period of intense royal self-representation under James I, who sought to consolidate his rule over multiple kingdoms. Engraved medals and their reproductions were key tools in projecting monarchical authority beyond the court. Van de Passe’s workshop was central to this visual propaganda, producing similar works for European royalty, blending heraldic tradition with emerging print culture.

The engraving stands as a documented example of how royal imagery was mechanically reproduced and circulated in the early modern period. While not widely known today, it contributed to the standardization of Stuart iconography and influenced later heraldic prints. Van de Passe’s technical precision set a benchmark for reproductive engraving, preserving the visual language of monarchy for future generations.