Medal commemorating the marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots to the Dauphin Francis of France, with Mary's privy seal and signet ring
After 1849
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 7 5/16 × 9 3/16 in. (18.6 × 23.3 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Susan Dwight Bliss, 1958
Accession Number
58.549.424
Tags
Art Historical Context
This enchanting engraving captures a medal commemorating the 1558 marriage of Mary Queen of Scots, to, the Dauphin of—an alliance that briefly united the Scottish and French crowns. Created after 1849 by engraver John West, with elements attributed to Mary herself through her privy seal and sign ring, the print faithfully reproduces intricate coats of arms symbolizing royal power and union. Mary's seals, bearing her personal emblems, add a intimate touch, reflecting her status as a Renaissance queen fluent in multiple languages and skilled in needlework and ciphering. As a precise engraving o...