Following the 400th anniversary of King James’ death, The World of King James VI &I is a careful construction in which we are able to witness all parts of James’ life through a variety of different artworks and objects. The exhibition spans from James’ separation from his mother (the infamous Queen Mary of Scots) and his childhood upbringing, to his marriage with Queen Anne of Denmark, later considering the beginnings of the North Berwick Witch Trials, and the construction of the King James Bible.
The curator, Kate Anderson, cleverly sets out the exhibition, initially transporting the viewer to James’ early life in Scotland, bringing them face-to-face with The Memorial of Lord Darnley (Livinus de Vogelaare, 1567). This, displayed alongside an example of James’ overwhelming neat handwriting, humanises the monarch. From his school and home life, the exhibition soon shifts to his beliefs in religion and spirituality.
James’ connection to the witch trials is widely known, with this exhibition considering the origin of his hatred for witches. Stormy seas during his and Queen Anne of Denmark’s honeymoon, spiralled into conspiracies that witches were trying to murder the royal couple – soon sparking the North Berwick Witch Trials.
Moving further into the exhibition, James’ life in England is shown through works like The Arch’s of Triumph (1604) series and a scent box mimicking James’ apothecary. Furthermore, audiences witness an exploration of the queer histories involving James, involving his “favourites:” Robert Carr and George Villiers. Finally, we are brought to James’ global reach across Europe, through the beginnings of British colonialism in American Indigenous lands, with the exhibition entailing works like Pocahontas (1616).
Alongside the exhibition, the curator presented an exhibition talk. This took the viewer on a curatorial journey behind the scenes of the exhibition. Due to the emergence of COVID-19, Anderson revealed that many art pieces and objects planned to be displayed could no longer be rented now. The current exhibition in itself is very impressive in its walk-through of James’ life, so one can only imagine the level of grandeur that Anderson wanted the initial showcase to be!
The World of King James VI & I exhibition ran from 26 April to 14 September 2025, in the National Portrait Gallery of Scotland.
“Full Length Portrait of King James VI and I (1566 – 1625) 1618-1620c.” by lisby1 is marked with Public domain mark 1.0.