Mary, Queen of Scots (frontispiece, from "De vita et rebus gestis... principis Mariae Scotorum reginae, Franciae dotariae, quae scriptis tradidere autores sedecim...," volume 1)

Art Historical Context

This striking etching and engraving serves as the frontispiece for volume 1 of *De vita et rebus gestis... principis Mariae Scotorum reginae*, a 1725 compilation of writings by sixteen authors chronicling the dramatic life of Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1587). The portrait captures the queen's regal poise, embodying her enduring allure as a symbol of tragedy, power, and intrigue. Mary, who ruled Scotland amid religious turmoil and plotted for the English throne, has fascinated generations, and this print reflects her mythic status over a century and a half after her execution. Created through the meticulous techniques of etching and engraving—processes that allowed for fine lines and rich tonal depth—the image draws on talents including Italian Mannerist painter Federico Zuccaro, renowned engraver George Vertue, and antiquary Samuel Jebb. Measuring 12 1/16 × 7 7/8 inches, it exemplifies 18th-century printmaking's role in disseminating historical portraits to wide audiences. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Susan Dwight Bliss, 1958), this work highlights how prints preserved and romanticized royal legacies for Enlightenment-era readers.