Q. Mary's Escape from Lochleven Castle (Mary, Queen of Scots)

1 portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Q. Mary's Escape from Lochleven Castle (Mary, Queen of Scots)

by William Sharp, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, published 1795
15 1/2 in. x 11 1/4 in. (394 mm x 285 mm) paper size
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D13128

Sitterback to top

Artistsback to top

  • William Sharp (1749-1824), Engraver. Artist or producer associated with 73 portraits, Sitter in 2 portraits.
  • Robert Smirke (1753-1845), Painter and illustrator. Artist or producer associated with 24 portraits, Sitter in 8 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Scenes of Mary's escape from Lochleven Castle were particularly popular with eighteenth-century history painters. Mary had spent ten months in captivity there in 1567-8 after an uprising of Scottish nobles following the murder of her second husband Lord Darnley and her marriage to the Earl of Bothwell. She eventually escaped from the castle in disguise, by boat. Robert Smirke's painting, reproduced in this engraving, was commissioned by Robert Bowyer as part of his 'Historic Gallery', a series of paintings of episodes from British history.

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Events of 1795back to top

Current affairs

George, Prince of Wales is forced to marry Caroline Amelia Elizabeth of Brunswick, despite having secretly married Maria Fitzherbert in 1785.
Widespread rioting prompts the introduction of the Speenhamland system of welfare supplements which are linked to the price of bread.
Treasonable Practices Act is passed against open criticism of government.

Art and science

The MP Matthew Gregory 'Monk' Lewis publishes his notorious gothic novel The Monk to success and scandal because of its immoral content.
Mungo Park explores the course of the River Niger.

International

Wolfe Tone, founder of The Society of United Irishmen, departs for America after being implicated in high treason in Ireland. Exiled in Philadelphia, he soon leaves for France to ask revolutionaries for assistance.
Joseph Haydn composes the English Canzonettas during his second stay in London.

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