Mary, Queen of Scots going to the place of execution 1790

This is William Nelson Gardiner's print, made in England in the late 1700s, showing Mary, Queen of Scots on her way to execution. What can a work like this tell us about British culture at the time? Gardiner presents Mary as a tragic figure, dignified despite her impending death. This romanticized view reflects a fascination with historical drama. The print also suggests a commentary on power and its abuses. Though produced long after Mary's death, the image resonates with contemporary political tensions and anxieties. By examining the print's publishing context, its distribution, and its reception, we can start to understand the public role of art and the politics of imagery. Research into similar images, popular literature, and political pamphlets from the period can reveal the social conditions that shaped its production and meaning. Art, then, becomes something contingent on its social and institutional context.