Mary, Queen of Scots 1788

This engraving of Mary, Queen of Scots, was made by John Keyse Sherwin. Here, Mary is framed by a laurel wreath, a classical symbol of triumph and eternal life. Below, allegorical figures drape garlands, typically signs of celebration, framing an image of conflict. Consider the wreath: In ancient Greece, athletes and heroes were crowned with laurel. Yet, here, it encircles a woman remembered for tragedy. This juxtaposition mirrors the complex narrative of Mary’s life, oscillating between power and downfall, celebrated and scorned. We see similar paradoxes across centuries—a potent illustration of how symbols evolve. There’s a tension at play in the viewer's subconscious—the laurel's promise of glory clashing with Mary's fate. It is as though this image has its own life, surfacing to embody the eternal struggle between triumph and tragedy in the human spirit.