Mary, Queen of Scots escaping Lochleven Castle (from "The History of England") 1795

"Mary, Queen of Scots escaping Lochleven Castle" is an engraving by William Sharp, created in 1795. The print depicts the dramatic moment when Mary, Queen of Scots, escapes from Lochleven Castle, a prison where she was held for nearly a year. The scene is composed of dark, shadowy figures, the most prominent of which is Mary, shown reaching down to grasp the hand of her rescuer, while a third figure, likely her supporter, follows behind. This 18th-century print, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a striking illustration of a significant historical event.