James VI and I Exhibition

 The National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh is running a special exhibition on the life and times of James VI of Scotland, who also became James I of England. This is the period I have reached in my Nigel Tranter novels, so I squeezed in a visit before a work meeting in Edinburgh. 

The National Portrait Gallery is an excellent historical resource, housing many famous pictures that tell the story of Scotland. For this exhibition, they have curated relevant pictures alongside exhibits from other sources.

Most of the pictures are of James at different stages of his life. If there is a theme, it is hats. He apparently even wore one in bed. What Queen Anna thought of this is not recorded!

And speaking of his queen, Anna of Denmark, there are several fine portraits of her. And despite James' hats and sundry other less than erotic personal habits, they did manage a fair brood of children, although sadly not all survived to adulthood.

Henry

Elizabeth

Charles

There are also portraits of key courtiers, many of whom appear in Tranter's novels.

My favourite is the Duke of Lennox, whose portrait reinforces my impression that he appears to have been a very decent guy.

The Earl of Morton, who ruled Scotland during James's minority. Not a decent guy!

Villiers (later Buckingham), one of his favourites.

There are other interesting pictures, including Stirling Castle, where James was effectively locked up as a child. And some of the options he considered for a union flag. Something he did not achieve.

The exhibition confirms my view that 'The Wisest Fool in Christendom' was not the worst King in either country. Well worth a visit if you are in Edinburgh this summer.