Mary, Queen of Scots

Art Historical Context

This etching and engraving by Robert Strange, created around 1757, a delicate portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots. As a print in the second state of six, it showcases the refined details achieved through the combined techniques of etching and engraving, which were prized in the eighteenth century for their ability to capture subtle textures in hair, lace, and fabric while allowing for wider circulation of images. Mary Stuart, the sixteenth-century Scottish monarch whose life of political intrigue and eventual execution captured the European imagination, is here reimagined for a later audience. Strange’s work reflects the period’s growing interest in historical portraiture, transforming earlier likenesses into accessible prints that educated viewers about royal figures from the past. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this small yet intricate work—measuring just under four inches square—highlights how printmaking bridged fine art and popular culture, preserving the memory of one of history’s most compelling queens for generations of museum visitors.