Mary, Queen of Scots at the execution block (from "The History of England")
Medium
Etching and engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 16 5/16 × 10 3/16 in. (41.4 × 25.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Susan Dwight Bliss, 1958
Accession Number
58.549.202
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold this poignant etching and engraving, *Mary, Queen of Scots at the Block*, from Robert Bowyer's illustrated edition of David Hume's *The History of England Created in June 1795, it captures the dramatic final moments of Mary Stuart, the tragic 16th-century queen executed in 1587 for alleged treason against her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I. The image, measuring 16 5/16 × 10 3/16 inches, draws viewers into a pivotal episode of Tudor history, blending somber realism with the era's fascination for royal drama. Collaboratively produced by talents including painter John Opie, engraver William Sk...