Fotoreproductie van een schilderij van de moord op Hendrik I van Guise door Paul Delaroche before 1858

This is a photogravure by Robert Jefferson Bingham, reproducing Paul Delaroche's depiction of the assassination of Henry I, Duke of Guise. The scene captures a pivotal moment of betrayal and violence, heavy with symbolic weight. The prone body of Guise, surrounded by assassins, echoes motifs of martyrdom and sacrifice found in religious art across centuries, from depictions of Saint Sebastian pierced with arrows to the crucifixion of Christ. The killers looming above, weapons in hand, mirror the Furies of classical tragedy, embodiments of vengeance and divine retribution. Note the gestures of the perpetrators: they are exaggerated and theatrical, as though participants in a morality play. The act of betrayal and violence transcends its immediate historical context. It resonates with primal themes of power, treachery, and the cyclical nature of history. The image serves as a chilling reminder of how violence and intrigue have haunted humanity across time. The symbol of violent death undergoes continuous psychological reprocessing in the human psyche.