Apotheosis of James I, with the king seated at the bottom, an eagle below him, two angels holding a laurel above him, surrounded by putti
Medium
Etching; second state of three (Hollstein)
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 12 1/16 × 7 15/16 in. (30.6 × 20.1 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951
Accession Number
51.501.7616
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking etching depicts the apotheosis of King James I, showing the monarch seated below as angels lower a laurel wreath above his head. An eagle perches beneath him while playful putti swirl around the composition, evoking themes of divine kingship, victory, and heavenly ascent. Created around 1639–66, the print translates a grand Baroque vision into a portable format. Peter Paul Rubens provided the original design, with Lucas Vorsterman II and Frans van den Wyngaerde responsible for the etching. As a second state of three, this impression reveals the careful refinement typical of reproductive prints after Rubens’s work. Such etchings played a vital role in spreading Flemish Baroque imagery across Europe, allowing wider audiences to encounter the dramatic symbolism and dynamic movement associated with the style. Measuring just over 12 by 8 inches, the sheet demonstrates how printmaking techniques captured intricate details like the angels’ flowing drapery and the king’s regal presence. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it offers viewers a glimpse into 17th-century ideals of monarchy and artistic collaboration.
About the Artist
Lucas Vorsterman II|Peter Paul Rubens|Frans van den Wyngaerde (Flemish|Italian) · 1624 |1503 –1666 |1572
Flemish, Antwerp 1624–after 1666 Antwerp|Italian, Monticelli 1503–1572 Florence