Mary, Queen of Scots 1800 - 1900

Marten Baes created this print of Mary, Queen of Scots around the mid-17th century. The composition is organized within an oval frame, tightly enclosing Mary's figure and heraldic symbols. The use of fine, delicate lines creates texture in her elaborate dress and the surrounding emblems of sovereignty. Baes structures the print using contrast—Mary's figure is juxtaposed against symbols of both her power and her fate: a crucifix and an executioner's axe. This visual pairing invites us to consider Mary's complex status as both a royal figure and a martyr. The heraldic shields flanking her are not merely decorative but function as signs, encoding layers of political and personal meaning. The artist challenges fixed historical narratives by visually intertwining these potent symbols, creating a space for interpreting Mary's life and legacy. The print destabilizes any singular understanding of its subject through this thoughtful interplay of form and content.