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Arnold Bronckorst
Arnold Bronckhorst, or Bronckorst or Van Bronckhorst (fl. 1565–1583) was a Flemish or Dutch painter who was court painter to James VI of Scotland.
Arnold's origins are unknown, and it is unclear if he was a member of the Dutch noble family of Van Bronckhorst.
According to an account of gold mining in Scotland by Stephen Atkinson written in 1619, Bronckorst was working in London as an associate of the English painter Nicholas Hilliard. With a painter or prospector, Cornelius de Vos, Bronckhorst went to Scotland to invest in gold mining, meeting Regent Morton. According to Atkinson, Hilliard invested in the mine, and Bronckhorst went to Edinburgh to negotiate the sale of gold to the mint, unsuccessfully. However, he was hired by Morton to paint portraits "great and small" of the young king, James VI and I.
There is no further evidence for Hilliard's involvement in the venture. Cornelius de Vos is documented as a mineral prospector in Scotland in this period, prospecting for gold and salt with colleagues including John Achillay, but not as a painter. Cornelius de Vos was made to review and lost his mining contract in 1575, which may reflect Atkinson's description of Bronckhorst negotiating with Regent Morton on behalf of de Vos.
There is a record of a 'French painter' who made a portrait of the King in September 1573, during Morton's regency, for £10. In September 1574, a portrait miniature of James VI was sent from Scotland to the French ambassador in London, Bertrand de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon, to forward as a gift to James‘ mother, Mary, Queen of Scots.
In England, a painter called "Arnold" was paid £4-6s-10d for a portrait of Henry Sidney in 1565. In Scotland, Arnold painted the King, Regent Morton, George Buchanan, and the Earl of Arran. According to the inventories of the Earl of Leicester, the earl had a portrait of the 'young king of Scots' in 1580, which may have been a copy of Arnold's picture. Leicester sent his own portrait to James VI, painted on canvas by Hubbard in 1583.
Arnold Bronkhorst was paid £130 Scots for portraits of James VI in April 1580. He was given 100 merks in September 1580 as a reward for relocating to Scotland, and paid £64 for two portraits of James VI and a painting of George Buchanan, the king's former tutor. Payment was delayed, and the bill was annotated in Scots by Bronkhorst "quhairof I have resavit as zit na payement". He received a corresponding payment of £64 Scots in the last months of 1580 as "Maistir Arnold paynter to the Kingis majestie" from the profits of the royal mint.
Bronckhorst's appointment as the King's painter was confirmed by privy seal letter on 19 September 1581 when the King was at Glasgow Castle. His pension was £100 yearly for life. On the same day a precept for payment for two portraits costing £46 was issued. One of these was a portrait of James VI intended to be sent abroad.
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Arnold Bronckorst
Arnold Bronckhorst, or Bronckorst or Van Bronckhorst (fl. 1565–1583) was a Flemish or Dutch painter who was court painter to James VI of Scotland.
Arnold's origins are unknown, and it is unclear if he was a member of the Dutch noble family of Van Bronckhorst.
According to an account of gold mining in Scotland by Stephen Atkinson written in 1619, Bronckorst was working in London as an associate of the English painter Nicholas Hilliard. With a painter or prospector, Cornelius de Vos, Bronckhorst went to Scotland to invest in gold mining, meeting Regent Morton. According to Atkinson, Hilliard invested in the mine, and Bronckhorst went to Edinburgh to negotiate the sale of gold to the mint, unsuccessfully. However, he was hired by Morton to paint portraits "great and small" of the young king, James VI and I.
There is no further evidence for Hilliard's involvement in the venture. Cornelius de Vos is documented as a mineral prospector in Scotland in this period, prospecting for gold and salt with colleagues including John Achillay, but not as a painter. Cornelius de Vos was made to review and lost his mining contract in 1575, which may reflect Atkinson's description of Bronckhorst negotiating with Regent Morton on behalf of de Vos.
There is a record of a 'French painter' who made a portrait of the King in September 1573, during Morton's regency, for £10. In September 1574, a portrait miniature of James VI was sent from Scotland to the French ambassador in London, Bertrand de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon, to forward as a gift to James‘ mother, Mary, Queen of Scots.
In England, a painter called "Arnold" was paid £4-6s-10d for a portrait of Henry Sidney in 1565. In Scotland, Arnold painted the King, Regent Morton, George Buchanan, and the Earl of Arran. According to the inventories of the Earl of Leicester, the earl had a portrait of the 'young king of Scots' in 1580, which may have been a copy of Arnold's picture. Leicester sent his own portrait to James VI, painted on canvas by Hubbard in 1583.
Arnold Bronkhorst was paid £130 Scots for portraits of James VI in April 1580. He was given 100 merks in September 1580 as a reward for relocating to Scotland, and paid £64 for two portraits of James VI and a painting of George Buchanan, the king's former tutor. Payment was delayed, and the bill was annotated in Scots by Bronkhorst "quhairof I have resavit as zit na payement". He received a corresponding payment of £64 Scots in the last months of 1580 as "Maistir Arnold paynter to the Kingis majestie" from the profits of the royal mint.
Bronckhorst's appointment as the King's painter was confirmed by privy seal letter on 19 September 1581 when the King was at Glasgow Castle. His pension was £100 yearly for life. On the same day a precept for payment for two portraits costing £46 was issued. One of these was a portrait of James VI intended to be sent abroad.