Mary, Queen of Scots, from "The History of England"

Art Historical Context

This engraving of Mary, Queen of Scots, created in 1773 for Paul de Rapin de Thoyras’s “The History of England,” captures the ill-fated monarch in a formal portrait that emphasizes her royal lineage. The print, likely based on an earlier design associated with Isaac Oliver and engraved by Robert Sheppard, shows Mary with the symbols of her sovereignty, including a prominent coat of arms. Produced more than 180 years after her execution in 1587, the image reflects the enduring fascination with her dramatic life story in 18th-century Britain. As an engraving, the work belongs to a medium prized for its ability to reproduce fine detail and distribute historical likenesses widely through books. Its inclusion in Rapin’s popular multi-volume history helped shape public understanding of England’s past, presenting Mary not only as a tragic figure but as a key player in the religious and political conflicts of the Tudor era. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this sheet measuring roughly 15 by 9 inches offers visitors a window into how portraiture and book illustration served both educational and commemorative purposes during the Enlightenment.