Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 122d

Mary Queen of Scots mourning over the dying Douglas at the Battle of Langside

Embroidered Picture
ca. 1870 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is an embroidered version of Charles Landseer's painting 'Mary, Queen of Scots mourning over the dying Douglas at the Battle of Langside'. The defeat of Mary's army at Langside in 1568 led to her flight to England and subsequent imprisonment by Elizabeth.

Charles Landseer (1799-1879), the painter of the original picture, was celebrated for paintings of historical and heroic scenes. This painting was particularly popular and was exhibited in 1837 and 1862.

A firm favourite with embroiderers, four versions of this scene were exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851. It continued to be copied throughout the 19th century.

A second embroidered version (T.298-1963) is owned by the Museum.This picture is an example of ' Berlin woolwork'. These were first introduced from Germany in the early 19th century. Using brightly coloured merino wools, the embroiderer would follow the ready marked pattern using one stitch for each square of canvas. This technique soon superseded all other forms of needlework and by the 1870s needlework shops were known as 'Berlin Warehouses'.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleMary Queen of Scots mourning over the dying Douglas at the Battle of Langside (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Coloured wools in cross-stitch
Brief description
Picture embroidered by Jane Brumlen depicting the painting 'Mary Queen of Scots Mourning over the Dying Douglas at the Battle of Langside' by Charles Landseer, ca. 1870
Physical description
Wool embroidered picture showing Mary Queen of Scots mourning over the dying Douglas at the Battle of Langside
Dimensions
  • Height: 110cm
  • Width: 154.3cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 31/07/2000 by KL. Registered object measurements Framed dimensions h:140cm c w:185cm
Gallery label
British Galleries: The painting of 'Mary Queen of Scots Mourning over the Dying Douglas at the Battle of Langside' by Charles Lansdeer (1799-1879) was a popular subject for amateur embroiderers, who favoured scenes of heroism and adventure. This embroidery is stitched from a ready-made kit on a canvas already marked with the image.(27/03/2003)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Christine Jordan
Object history
Embroidered by Mrs Jane Brumlen from a commercial kit
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is an embroidered version of Charles Landseer's painting 'Mary, Queen of Scots mourning over the dying Douglas at the Battle of Langside'. The defeat of Mary's army at Langside in 1568 led to her flight to England and subsequent imprisonment by Elizabeth.

Charles Landseer (1799-1879), the painter of the original picture, was celebrated for paintings of historical and heroic scenes. This painting was particularly popular and was exhibited in 1837 and 1862.

A firm favourite with embroiderers, four versions of this scene were exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851. It continued to be copied throughout the 19th century.

A second embroidered version (T.298-1963) is owned by the Museum.This picture is an example of ' Berlin woolwork'. These were first introduced from Germany in the early 19th century. Using brightly coloured merino wools, the embroiderer would follow the ready marked pattern using one stitch for each square of canvas. This technique soon superseded all other forms of needlework and by the 1870s needlework shops were known as 'Berlin Warehouses'.
Collection
Accession number
T.8-1927

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Record createdNovember 18, 2002
Record URL
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