Mary, Queen of Scots 18th century

This print depicts Mary, Queen of Scots, who lived from 1542 to 1587. As a monarch in the 16th century, Mary navigated a world deeply shaped by gender, religion, and politics. Her life was one of constant negotiation within patriarchal structures; she held significant power, yet her gender often made her vulnerable and challenged her authority. As a Catholic queen in a predominantly Protestant Scotland, Mary faced religious tensions that fueled political unrest and ultimately led to her imprisonment and execution. The print captures her likeness, but it also hints at the complexities of her identity. Was she a ruler, a woman, a Catholic, a mother, or a prisoner? Portraits like these often served political purposes, reinforcing or challenging perceptions of power and legitimacy. This image invites us to reflect on how representations of historical figures are shaped by the agendas of their time.