Maxwell Official Guide to Holyroodhouse - The Grian Press

12 PALACE AND ABBEY CHURCH
The visitor probably will give but fleeting attention to
this collection, and will pass forward to examine a work of
rare merit, which is displayed upon two oaken stands in
the middle of the floor, namely
The Portraits of James III. and his Queen,
Margaret of Denmark.
This painting is on both sides of two panels of fir,
covered with gypsum, each measuring inside the frames
about 6 ft. 10 in. by 3 ft. 8 in. The subject, the identity
of the persons represented, the artist, and the original ar-
rangement of the pieces, have been matter of animated
discussion among experts in history and art. It is need-
less to mention all the divergent views which have been
propounded from time to time ; those, probably, will come
nearest the truth who accept the opinion expressed by Mr
James Caw, Curator of the Scottish National Portrait
Gallery, in his monumental work on Scottish portraits. 1
First, as to the personages represented. On the front
of the right panel (left as you look at it) is James III.
kneeling, a figure of St Andrew standing behind him supporting
the crown upon the King's head, which has caused
these paintings to be known popularly as a coronation
piece ; but James III. was only nine years
old when he
was crowned at Kelso in 1460 nine years before his
marriage with Margaret of Denmark, whose portrait appears
in the corresponding panel. It has been surmised that in
St Andrew was represented Schevey, Archbishop of St
Andrews ; but, as observed by the late Mr David Laing,
the painting bears no resemblance to the fine medallion
1 Scottish Portraits. Edinburgh, 1902.