Royal Progeny of King James 1619

This genealogical table, made by Benjamin Wright, presents the royal lineage of King James, intertwining family portraits within an allegorical tree. Note how the visual language communicates power and legitimacy. Consider the rose, for instance, prominently displayed with each portrait. The Tudor rose, a symbolic fusion of the red rose of Lancaster and the white rose of York, represents the end of England's dynastic wars. Yet, this imagery, born from conflict, resurfaces repeatedly. The rose becomes a visual anchor, reminding viewers of unity forged from division. The use of heraldic devices, crowns, and family crests—echoes of authority—speak to a deep-seated human need for order and continuity. Just as ancient Roman emperors adopted symbols of divine power, the symbols here evoke a sense of timeless authority. The symbolic family tree, in its non-linear, cyclical progression, speaks to the subconscious desire to reconcile the past with the present, reinforcing the notion of unbroken lineage.