Adrian Vanson
Encyclopedia
Adrian Vanson was court portrait painter
to James VI of Scotland.
Adrian succeeded Arnold Bronckorst
as court painter in Scotland in May 1584, and his appointment was subsequently confirmed by royal letter on 20 August 1584. Adrian Vanson was paid £8-10s in June 1581 for two pictures sent to Theodore Beza
. A letter by James VI's former tutor Peter Young
accompanied pictures of John Knox
and George Buchanan
sent to Geneva in November 1579 for the woodcuts in Beza's Icones (1580). The Scottish portraits arrived too late for the book, and the woodcuts of Knox and a James VI, thought to be by Vanson, were first published in Simon Goulart
's edition of the Icones in 1581. The picture of George Buchanan, which was never published in Beza's Icones, but may have appeared in other later works, is attributed to Bronckorst.
Vanson also painted ceremonial spears and banners for the coronation of Anne of Denmark
. When he was made a burgess of Edinburgh
, it was hoped he would teach his craft to apprentices. He may have been 'Lord Seton's
painter', who was recorded drawing portraits for coins at the mint in Edinburgh.
Attributed portraits include James VI; Anne of Denmark; Patrick Lyon, Lord Glamis; Sir Thomas Kennedy of Culzean; Agnes Douglas, Countess of Argyll
. Vanson's James VI of circa 1585 survives at Edinburgh castle
. In May 1586 a French ambassador in Scotland, the Baron d'Esneval, promised to get Mary, Queen of Scots a copy of a recent portrait of James VI from the only painter in Edinburgh. There had been rumours of an embassy to Denmark to discuss the king's marriage in April 1586. It is thought the picture at Edinburgh Castle was made by Vanson for this embassy or a similar purpose.
Adrian was married to Susanna de Colone, an active business woman in Edinburgh. Her son or brother was the portrait painter Adam de Colone. Although the family were of Flemish origin, Vanson's relative or brother Abraham Vanson was also in Edinburgh working as a goldsmith. After Adrian's death, in 1610 Susanna petitioned the king for outstanding payments.
Court painter
A court painter was an artist who painted for the members of a royal or noble family, sometimes on a fixed salary and on an exclusive basis where the artist was not supposed to undertake other work. Especially in the late Middle Ages, they were often given the office of valet de chambre...
to James VI of Scotland.
Adrian succeeded Arnold Bronckorst
Arnold Bronckorst
Arnold Bronckorst, or Bronckhorst was a painter of Netherlandish origin who was court painter to James VI of Scotland....
as court painter in Scotland in May 1584, and his appointment was subsequently confirmed by royal letter on 20 August 1584. Adrian Vanson was paid £8-10s in June 1581 for two pictures sent to Theodore Beza
Theodore Beza
Theodore Beza was a French Protestant Christian theologian and scholar who played an important role in the Reformation...
. A letter by James VI's former tutor Peter Young
Peter Young (tutor)
-Life:Young was the second son of John Young, burgess of Edinburgh and Dundee, and of Margaret, daughter of Walter Scrymgeour of Glasswell, and was born at Dundee on 15 August 1544. His mother was related to the Scrymgeours of Dudhope , and his father settled in Dundee at the time of his marriage...
accompanied pictures of John Knox
John Knox
John Knox was a Scottish clergyman and a leader of the Protestant Reformation who brought reformation to the church in Scotland. He was educated at the University of St Andrews or possibly the University of Glasgow and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1536...
and George Buchanan
George Buchanan
George Buchanan may refer to:*George Buchanan , Scottish humanist*Sir George Buchanan , Scottish soldier during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms*Sir George Buchanan , Chief Medical Officer...
sent to Geneva in November 1579 for the woodcuts in Beza's Icones (1580). The Scottish portraits arrived too late for the book, and the woodcuts of Knox and a James VI, thought to be by Vanson, were first published in Simon Goulart
Simon Goulart
Simon Goulart was a French Reformed theologian, humanist and poet.-Life:He was born at Senlis in northern France. He first studied law, then adopted the Reformed...
's edition of the Icones in 1581. The picture of George Buchanan, which was never published in Beza's Icones, but may have appeared in other later works, is attributed to Bronckorst.
Anne of Denmark
Anne of Denmark was queen consort of Scotland, England, and Ireland as the wife of King James VI and I.The second daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark, Anne married James in 1589 at the age of fourteen and bore him three children who survived infancy, including the future Charles I...
. When he was made a burgess of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, it was hoped he would teach his craft to apprentices. He may have been 'Lord Seton's
George Seton, 7th Lord Seton
George Seton V, 7th Lord Seton was a Lord of the Parliament of Scotland, Master of the Household of Mary, Queen of Scots and Provost of Edinburgh. He was the eldest son of George Seton, 6th Lord Seton and Elizabeth Hay, a daughter of John Hay, 3rd Lord Hay of Yester...
painter', who was recorded drawing portraits for coins at the mint in Edinburgh.
Attributed portraits include James VI; Anne of Denmark; Patrick Lyon, Lord Glamis; Sir Thomas Kennedy of Culzean; Agnes Douglas, Countess of Argyll
Agnes Douglas, Countess of Argyll
Agnes Douglas, Countess of Argyll was a Scottish noblewoman and the first wife of Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll. She was the mother of three of his children, including his heir, Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, the de facto head of the government in Scotland throughout most of...
. Vanson's James VI of circa 1585 survives at Edinburgh castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
. In May 1586 a French ambassador in Scotland, the Baron d'Esneval, promised to get Mary, Queen of Scots a copy of a recent portrait of James VI from the only painter in Edinburgh. There had been rumours of an embassy to Denmark to discuss the king's marriage in April 1586. It is thought the picture at Edinburgh Castle was made by Vanson for this embassy or a similar purpose.
Adrian was married to Susanna de Colone, an active business woman in Edinburgh. Her son or brother was the portrait painter Adam de Colone. Although the family were of Flemish origin, Vanson's relative or brother Abraham Vanson was also in Edinburgh working as a goldsmith. After Adrian's death, in 1610 Susanna petitioned the king for outstanding payments.
External links
- Adrian Vanson at the National Galleries of Scotland
- James VI by Adrian Vanson, at Edinburgh Castle, (Historic Scotland)
- Information on the Edinburgh Castle Vanson from Philip Mould Ltd.
- Margaret Graham by Adam de Colone, National Galleries of Scotland
- James Erskine, 6th earl of Buchan by Adam de Colone, National Galleries of Scotland