Mary, Queen of Scots 1800 - 1850

This is Jean-Mathias Fontaine's portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots, rendered in ink on paper in the 19th century. Fontaine's delicate lines capture Mary’s regal appearance, but also hint at the turbulent life of a woman caught in the crosshairs of religious and political conflict. Mary Stuart was Queen of Scotland and a claimant to the English throne, her story is one of power, betrayal, and ultimately, tragedy. Fontaine was born long after Mary Stuart was executed, but he was likely influenced by the romanticism of the 19th century, an era that often looked back to historical figures to find both inspiration and cautionary tales. Consider the context of gender and power. Mary, as a female monarch, constantly navigated a world designed for men. Her choices, her loves, her alliances were all scrutinized in ways her male counterparts were not. This portrait serves not only as a depiction, but as a reflection on the complicated legacy of a queen in a deeply patriarchal world.