Mary, Queen of Scots
early 19th century
Medium
Stipple engraving, etching and engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 6 15/16 × 4 3/4 in. (17.7 × 12.1 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Susan Dwight Bliss, 1958
Accession Number
58.549.347
Tags
Art Historical Context
This early 19th-century print captures Mary, Queen of Scots, the captivating 16th-century monarch whose dramatic life and tragic execution have long fascinated audiences. Created as a stipple engraving, etching, and engraving by Edward Scriven, the work reflects the period’s renewed interest in historical figures during the Romantic era, when Mary’s story of political intrigue, exile, and resilience resonated deeply with British and European viewers. The combination of techniques—particularly stipple engraving—allowed Scriven to achieve delicate tonal gradations and fine detail, making the po...