Jacobean

Jacobean describes the period, style, and subjects associated with James I of England (VI of Scotland), who reigned from 1603 to 1625. The label is used for the arts, architecture, and culture that flourished in England and Scotland during that time, and for works influenced by the political union of the crowns.

Jacobean architecture and design merged Renaissance motifs with local forms. Common features include brick and stone construction, tall mullioned windows, gabled roofs, and expansive ornament. Interiors used carved dark oak furnishings and plasterwork such as strapwork ceilings. Ornamentation often included heraldic devices, botanical motifs, and geometric patterns.

In drama, Jacobean theatre produced writers like Ben Jonson, John Webster, and Thomas Middleton; works were often dark, satirical, and violent, reflecting social anxieties and the new monarchy. The period also saw the publication of the King James Version of the Bible (1611), a major literary work that influenced English-language prose and religious life.

Jacobean style had a lasting influence on later English design, transitioning into Caroline and early Baroque forms in the mid-17th century.