Mary, Queen of Scots embarking at Calais to return to Scotland 1800 - 1880

Emile Desmaisons captured Mary, Queen of Scots' departure from Calais in this 19th-century engraving. The ship is more than a means of transport; it is a symbol of fate, carrying her away from the familiar shores of France towards an uncertain future in Scotland. Note how the ship is constructed. The rigging of the ship, a web of lines against the sky, evoke the threads of destiny, lines both guide and bind. This iconography of ships has been repeated throughout the Renaissance as emblems of fortune. Think of the ship imagery in tarot cards from the 15th century. Consider, too, the handkerchief Mary holds. It signifies both goodbye and a token of remembrance. In ancient funerary rites, similar cloths were waved in farewell, meant to carry away the spirits of the dead. Here, the Queen’s gesture is potent with personal and political symbolism, echoing through time. This scene is charged with emotional anticipation, as it draws us into the Queen's poignant moment of transition. We stand with Mary, on the cusp of her tragic destiny.