Mary, Queen of Scots (from "Historia Belgica nostri potissimum temporis, Belgii sub quatuor Burgundis et totidem Austriacis Principibus conjunctionem et gubernationem breviter," page 410) 1595 - 1605

This engraving of Mary, Queen of Scots was made by Emanuel van Meteren, a Netherlandish historian and diplomat, and included in his book "Historia Belgica," a chronicle of the Low Countries. Born into royalty, Mary's life was steeped in political intrigue and religious conflict. As a Catholic queen in a Protestant-dominated Scotland, she faced immense challenges to her rule and person. This portrait, published after her execution, reflects the complex narratives surrounding her life. Do you see the scenes depicted around the circumference? One shows her execution. The artist's inclusion of such scenes invites reflection on the ways in which gender, power, and religion shaped Mary's fate. Van Meteren’s engraving serves not only as a historical record but also as a somber reflection on the human cost of political and religious strife, forever immortalizing Mary's story within the annals of history.