Mary, Queen of Scots (from "A New and Authentic History of England")

Art Historical Context

This enchanting engraving, titled *Mary Queen of Scots* fromA New and Authentic History of England*, captures dramatic likeness of one of history's most tragic monarchs. Created around 1777–79, it was designed by Samuel Wale, a prominent British illustrator known for his historical scenes, and engraved by Charles White with contributions from William Augustus Russel. Measuring about 14 by 8 inches, this print exemplifies the meticulous art of engraving, where fine lines incised into a metal plate allowed for detailed reproductions in books, making royal history accessible to 18th-century readers. Mary Stuart (1542–1587), Queen of Scotland and cousin to Elizabeth I, embodied Renaissance intrigue—crowned at nine months old, she navigated Catholic-Protestant tensions, marriages, and plots that led to her imprisonment and beheading. In Georgian England, such portraits romanticized her as a symbol of beauty, tragedy, and political martyrdom, fueling public fascination through histories like this one. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Susan Dwight Bliss, 1958), this work highlights engraving's role in preserving and popularizing queens' legacies, blending artistry with cultural memory for generations of visitors.