Mary Queen of Scots - Francesco Bartolozzi

A fine 1779 stipple engraving by Francesco Bartolozzi depicting Mary Queen of Scots, based on a painting held by the Worshipful Company of Drapers.

This stipple engraving by Francesco Bartolozzi, published in 1779, depicts Mary Queen of Scots alongside a young child. The composition is based on a painting attributed to Federico Zuccaro, which was held by the Worshipful Company of Drapers in London. Bartolozzi, an Italian engraver who spent much of his career in Britain, was a master of the stipple technique. This method uses dots rather than lines to create tonal gradations, allowing for a soft, painterly quality that mimics the texture of skin and fabric.

The print shows Mary in a formal gown with a ruff, her hand resting gently on the head of a child who holds a small hat and a flower. The background features a leaded glass window looking out onto a church, while a heavy curtain hangs to the right. The floor is covered in a geometric tiled pattern. Below the image, the print includes a formal dedication to the Master Wardens and Court of Assistants of the Worshipful Company of Drapers, acknowledging the original painting in their collection. The inclusion of the company's coat of arms adds a layer of institutional provenance to the work.

Bartolozzi was a founding member of the Royal Academy of Arts and became the official engraver to King George III. His technical precision and ability to translate complex oil paintings into monochrome prints made him one of the most sought-after printmakers of the eighteenth century. This particular work demonstrates his skill in capturing the textures of the period, from the delicate lace of the ruffs to the heavy folds of the drapery. It serves as a record of how historical figures were interpreted and presented to the public during the Georgian era, often blending factual portraiture with the aesthetic conventions of the time.