Esme Stewart, Duke of Lennox, arrived in Scotland from France in 1579. King James, who was 13 years old at the time, was quickly drawn to his cultured cousin. James showered him with prestigious roles and titles. His rivals believed Lennox had too much influence over the teenage king, even claiming James was infatuated with him. This drawing was copied from a 16th–century portrait of Lennox. The Earl of Buchan was a Scottish antiquarian and amateur artist. He made many studies of original Scottish portraits, which he often annotated. The notes on this drawing record the sitter’s eye and hair colour, clothing detail and biographical information.