Sterfbed van Maria II Stuart, koningin van Engeland 1695

This print, by Pieter van den Berge, depicts the death of Mary II of England. It was made in the Netherlands, likely around the time of her death in 1694. The scene illustrates a carefully staged royal death, a public event even in its final moments. The setting, likely Kensington Palace, is filled with grieving courtiers, while angels in the upper register allude to Mary's ascent to heaven. But the print also bears witness to the political dimensions of Mary’s death. As a Dutch artist, Van den Berge would have been aware of Mary’s role, along with her husband William of Orange, in solidifying the Protestant succession in England. Prints like this one circulated widely, shaping public opinion and solidifying political narratives. To fully understand this image, we might turn to period writings, political pamphlets, and even court records. These sources help us decode the complex interplay of religion, power, and personal tragedy that shaped the image and the society that consumed it.