Mary, Queen of Scots 1835 - 1845

This engraving captures Mary, Queen of Scots, immortalizing her with symbols of power and piety. The cross around her neck anchors our understanding of her as a devout Catholic monarch during a tumultuous era of religious conflict. Consider how the motif of the cross appears in ancient Roman art and early Christian catacombs, initially a symbol of suffering, later transformed into a symbol of triumph and faith. The cross worn by Mary, a figure of both regal authority and personal devotion, evokes the intertwined nature of spiritual and earthly power. Here, the cross also speaks of the emotional burden carried by Mary. The weight of the cross, both literally and figuratively, connects viewers to her personal struggles, engaging us on a deep, subconscious level. We see the cross as a non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.