Ideas for seven of the nine finished ceiling canvases can be seen in this sketch, with The Apotheosis of James I as the largest and most important in the centre. Having brought union, peace and plenty to Britain, James I is shown ascending to the heavens.
The allegories are intended to symbolise the great benefits of the Stuart dynasty and legitimise the reign of the new king, Charles I. With the initial design approved, Rubens produced more detailed oil sketches for each of the scenes before painting the finished canvases.
The diagram shows the final location of the studies in the sketch on the finished ceiling.