Mary, Queen of Scots

by Elkington & Co, cast by Domenico Brucciani, after Cornelius and William Cure
electrotype, 1870, based on a work of circa 1606-1616
24 in. (610 mm) high
Given by John Hosack, 1870
Primary Collection
NPG 307

Sitterback to top

Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1587), Reigned 1542-67. Sitter associated with 151 portraits.

Artistsback to top

Domenico Brucciani (1815-1880), Sculptor. Artist associated with 23 portraits.
Cornelius and William Cure (active 1606-1616), Sculptor. Artist associated with 3 portraits.
Elkington & Co, Sculptors. Artist associated with 22 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This electrotype is a copy from the head and shoulders of the marble tomb effigy in Westminster Abbey. It is one of a series of electrotype reproductions of tomb effigies made for the National Portrait Gallery by Elkington & Co in the 1870s. An electrotype sculpture of this type is made by electro-deposition of copper onto a mould or cast of an object. The electrotype could then be patinated like bronze.

Related worksback to top

NPG 307a: Mary, Queen of Scots (plaster cast)
NPG 307b: Mary, Queen of Scots (plaster cast)

Linked publicationsback to top

Smartify image discovery app
Pointon, Marcia, Hanging the head : portraiture and social formation in eighteenth-¿century England, 1993, p. 243 number 290
Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 417
Strong, Roy, Tudor and Jacobean Portraits, 1969, p. 216

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Framing the Face: Collars and Ruffs (19 February 2016 - 16 July 2017)
Queens and Consorts: Likeness in lIfe and Death (From 12 June 2013)
Mary, Queen of Scots: Fact and Fiction (24 Augus

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1606back to top

Current affairs

The Lord Chief Justice Sir John Popham sentences Guy Fawkes to be hanged, drawn and quartered in the Old Palace Yard opposite Parliament.
Creation of a union flag of England and Scotland prompts complaints from Scottish shipowners that the St. George cross obscures the saltire of St. Andrew.

Art and science

The Stationers' Company Register, which allowed publishers to register their rights to produce printed works, notes a performance of William Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear, possibly the play's first appearance.
Benjamin Johnson comic masterpiece, Volpone, premiers at the Globe Theatre.

International

Three ships belonging to The London Company set sail from London, to establish colonial settlements in North America. Richard Bancroft, Archbishop of Canterbury, enlists Robert Hunt as chaplain for the expedition. Hunt probably conducted the first known holy communion service in North America.

Tell us more back to top

Can you tell us more about this portrait? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.

If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license this image, please use our Rights and Images service.

Please note that we cannot provide valuations.

We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.

* What can you tell us? (Help)

There are occasions when we are unsure of the identity of a sitter or artist, their life dates, occupation or have not recorded their family relationships. Sometimes we have not recorded the date of a portrait. Do you have specialist knowledge or a particular interest about any aspect of the portrait or sitter or artist that you can share with us? We would welcome any information that adds to and enhances our information and understanding about a particular portrait, sitter or artist.

Citation (Help)

How do you know this? Please could you let us know your source of information.

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)

The National Portrait Gallery will NOT use your information to contact you or store for any other purpose than to investigate or display your contribution. By ticking permission to publish you are indicating your agreement for your contribution to be shown on this collection item page. Please note your email address will not be displayed on the page nor will it be used for any marketing material or promotion of any kind.

Please ensure your comments are relevant and appropriate. Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble. All contributions are moderated.

Denied Granted

* Your name (Why?)

* Email (Why?)

Contributions are moderated. We'll need your email address so that we can follow up on the information provided and contact you to let you know when your contribution has been published.