Mary, Queen of Scots (from "Select Biography: Containing Instructive and Entertaining Accounts of the Lives, Characters, and Actions of the Most Eminent Persons of All Ages and All Countries") 1800 - 1833

T. Clerk engraved this image of Mary, Queen of Scots for a biography, capturing her in the iconic fashion of her time. The ruff collar, a symbol of status and refinement, encircles her neck like a halo, drawing our eyes to her face. The ruff, however, is more than mere decoration; it is a cultural signifier with a complex history. Emerging in the 16th century, it evolved from a modest frill to an extravagant statement, reflecting the wearer's wealth and social standing. Think of the collars in Dutch portraits by masters like Rembrandt, where the ruff becomes almost a character in itself, dictating posture and presence. This act of adornment is psychologically intriguing; the ruff both elevates and imprisons, suggesting a tension between visibility and constraint. In Mary's case, the ruff accentuates her regal bearing but also hints at the restrictions placed upon her as a queen and a woman. Like a serpent eating its own tail, this evolution is cyclical, ever returning in new forms.