KING  JAMES  VI  OF  SCOTLAND  1567 - 1625

 KING  JAMES  I  OF  ENGLAND  &  IRELAND  1603 - 1625

Portrait  attributed  to  the Flemish  artist  Paulus  van   Somer,  c.1577 - 1621  

 Research and photographs © by George W. Randall.  

This magnificent oil on canvas bearing the attribution 

Paul van Somer is part of the 

Sir George Bullough, Bt. Memorial

gifted to the British nation by his widow on 

28 February 1957 and located in the Great Hall, 

Kinloch Castle, Isle of Rum, Scotland.

The 26,400 acre island, (with its still fully furnished former 

late Victorian hunting lodge), was purchased by the Conservative Government of the day to be used as an outdoor research  laboratory for the conservation and enhancement of Scotland’s natural heritage.

Originally placed in the care of the Nature Conservancy, from 1992 Scottish Natural Heritage, the agency, funded by taxation, is responsible to the Scottish Parliament 

in Edinburgh, with a budget of £46.5 million in 2018/19.
(Down from £53 million in 2015.)

Regrettably in 1957 or the intervening sixty-three years no specific care body or funding has ever been allocated or sought for the protection and conservation of these magnificent 
publicly owned treasures.  WHY?

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The full-length portrait of King James VI of Scotland and King James I of England and Ireland

displayed in the Great Hall, Kinloch Castle, Isle of Rum, Scotland.

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The painting is one of three out of twenty-five professionally surveyed by an art conservator in 1996 and deemed:  “in poor condition (and) in urgent need of studio treatment for major structural conservation and restoration.”

The Flemish artist Paul van Somer was born circa. 1577 and moved to England

during the reign of James as King James I of England and Ireland where

he became a leading painter at the royal court.

James, only child of Mary, Queen of Scots and her second husband, Lord Darnley,  

became King James VI of Scotland on 24 July 1567 following the forced abdication of his mother.

Following the union of the Scottish and English crowns he also became 

King James I of England and Ireland on 24 March 1603 until his death on 27 March 1625 .

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The painting was recorded in the 1978, 1992 and 1996 Inventories of Kinloch Castle Contents, 

by Phillips of Scotland, as being “a full oil on canvas portrait of King James VI

in the manner of van Somer, in white dress and red velvet cloak, plumed hat on table.” 

79 x 92 inches / 132 x 200 centimetres.

The 1996 professional art conservator’s appraisal concluded:

“ Local consolidation and treatment of the flaking 
paint will never prove effective.

Studio treatment over a period of many months” is necessary to 

restore and conserve this painting, which is “in very poor 

condition (and) must be treated as a priority.”

“Losses of paint layer are widespread and continuing ….”

(Quote from the 1996 Professional Appraisal)

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The painting was examined off the wall but not removed from its frame. A cloth backing cover 

was tacked to the back and part of this was lifted to examine the stretcher.

The Report continues: the paint layer was considered “inherently unstable as it (was) delaminating

over a wide area of the ground, that is the priming layer beneath.

This shows through … as deep pink in most areas and chalky grey in others.”

Loss and flaking was recorded as “widespread, notably in a prominent area around

the sitter’s feet, right across the chain and sitter’s chest and shoulders, as well as …

the concave dent in the upper quadrant.” 

The fine weave canvas was intact with no tears or holes, but the lining had failed as there was 

widespread flaking and instability across the pain and ground layers. Tension was “a little slack.”

Tacking edges appeared secure. There was, however, “a slight concave dent, approximately

3 x 9 centimetres, situated 25cms. from the top edge and 42cms. from the right.”

The Stretcher/Strainer was found not to be the original.

A varied network of fine cracks, craquelure, due to shrinkage of both paint and ground

was noted, particularly around the face. The varnish layer was considered

“poor, discoloured and uneven, with considerably yellowed with discoloured residues

from earlier layers trapped beneath.

The amount of surface dirt gave the painting a poor appearance.”

The gilded frame was found to be “structurally sound and in fair condition.”

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King James VI of Scotland from 1567 to 1625 and

King James I of England and Ireland from 1603 to 1625 by Daniel Mytens.

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Crowned King as a child of just over one year old, the country was run by a series of 

Protestant Regents until James reached his majority.

The tapestry behind the King bears the Tudor Rose emblem and the motto “Beati Pacifici”

“Blessed are the Peace Makers.”

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In August 2007 Messrs Bonhams conducted an inventory for insurance purposes

of Kinloch Castle contents.

With reference to the King James portrait they recorded:

“Manner of Daniel Mytens. Portrait of King James I of England, VI of Scotland, 
shown full length and seated in court robes. After a portrait 
in the National Portrait Gallery, London. 

Oil on canvas. 200 x 132cm.”

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The bleak future for this painting is summed up in the Conservator’s concluding remarks 
written twenty years ago in 1996:

“Local consolidation and treatment of the flaking paint will never 
prove effective, the painting must be de-lined and re-lined and the 
extensive flaking paint secured with impregnation of the paint 
and ground layers from the reverse.

The process of removing the existing lining canvas,

the thick residues of animal glue on the reverse of the original 
canvas and impregnation of wax/resin (or similar) adhesive 
from the back, together with a subsequent relining, 
is a time-consuming treatment.”

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It is not the purpose of my posts to quote valuations or 
estimated costs of restoration,

all of which are now many years out of date.

Suffice to say regards this painting 
the 1996 restoration costs exceeded the 2007 valuation.

So, what happens next - restore it or lose it?

Don’t let Britain’s heritage slip away through indifference -

Express your concern by contacting:

The First Minister of Scotland, 

Mr. John Swinney, M.S.P.,

St. Andrew's House, Regent Street,

Edinburgh, EH1 3DG, Scotland

Telephone: 0141 424 1174

THE ISLAND OF RUM INCLUDING A FULLY FURNISHED  
LATE VICTORIAN /EDWARDIAN KINLOCH CASTLE 
WAS PURCHASED WITH TAX PAYER’S MONEY IN 1957.

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UPDATED 17 JULY 2024

to raise public awareness of the present condition 
and uncertain future of these publicly owned art treasures.

Photographs and research © George W. Randall.