Mary, Queen of Scots (from "Baziliologia, A Booke of Kings")

Art Historical Context

This enchanting engraving from *Baziliologia, A Booke of Kings* (1618) captures the regal likeness of Mary, Queen of Scots (154–1587), one of history's most tragic and captivating monarchs. Produced over three decades after her execution for treason by her cousin Queen Elizabeth I, the portrait reflects enduring fascination with Mary's beauty, intellect, and turbulent life—from her French upbringing and Scottish reign to her imprisonment and dramatic downfall amid Catholic-Protestant intrigue. Published by Compton Holland and reissued by Henry Holland, the image was masterfully engraved by Renold Elstrack, a leading English printmaker. Engravings like this were revolutionary in the early 17th century, making royal portraits accessible beyond elite circles through affordable books. Trimmed to a compact 7½ × 4⅜ inches, it exemplifies the intricate line work and detailed shading typical of Jacobean printmaking, ideal for dissemination in an era hungry for visual histories of kings and queens. A gift to The Metropolitan Museum of Art from Susan Dwight Bliss in 1958, this print invites visitors to ponder Mary's enduring legacy as a symbol of queenship, resilience, and romance, preserved in the Department of Drawings and Prints.