Queen Mary II lying in state
Engraving
1695 (made)
1695 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This print is an engraving. The image was made by cutting lines into the surface of a flat piece of metal, inking the plate and then transferring the ink held in the lines on to a sheet of paper.
Subject Depicted
Mary II died on the 28 December 1694. Her embalmed corpse was taken to Whitehall Palace, London, where the body remained until the funeral in Westminster Abbey on the 5 March 1695. Although this print claims to show the Queen lying in state, it does not match contemporary accounts of the scene. These describe a coffin on which were placed cushions bearing the crown, sceptre, orb, sword and gauntlet.
In fact, the effigy and tomb-like structure in this print are copied from an earlier print of 1620. The earlier one shows the tomb of Elizabeth I and was published in Heroologia Anglica, a collection of plates showing images of famous English men and women. It is unlikely that the anonymous engraver actually saw Queen Mary lying in state. Instead, he has used the effigy and tomb in the earlier print as a model for his portrayal of the temporary dais on which, in reality, the coffin rested before the funeral.
Ownership & Use
Queen Mary was extremely popular with her subjects and this type of print served as a powerful expression of public grief at her death. There would have been a huge demand for such images and printmakers would have been keen to cater for this demand.
This print is an engraving. The image was made by cutting lines into the surface of a flat piece of metal, inking the plate and then transferring the ink held in the lines on to a sheet of paper.
Subject Depicted
Mary II died on the 28 December 1694. Her embalmed corpse was taken to Whitehall Palace, London, where the body remained until the funeral in Westminster Abbey on the 5 March 1695. Although this print claims to show the Queen lying in state, it does not match contemporary accounts of the scene. These describe a coffin on which were placed cushions bearing the crown, sceptre, orb, sword and gauntlet.
In fact, the effigy and tomb-like structure in this print are copied from an earlier print of 1620. The earlier one shows the tomb of Elizabeth I and was published in Heroologia Anglica, a collection of plates showing images of famous English men and women. It is unlikely that the anonymous engraver actually saw Queen Mary lying in state. Instead, he has used the effigy and tomb in the earlier print as a model for his portrayal of the temporary dais on which, in reality, the coffin rested before the funeral.
Ownership & Use
Queen Mary was extremely popular with her subjects and this type of print served as a powerful expression of public grief at her death. There would have been a huge demand for such images and printmakers would have been keen to cater for this demand.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Queen Mary II lying in state (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Engraving, ink on paper |
| Brief description | Print - Engraving of Queen Mary II Lying in State |
| Physical description | Engraving |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | British Galleries:
Mary's sudden death from smallpox in December 1694 was swiftly recorded in many sermons, poems and engravings. John Overton, who published this engraving specialised in selling popular prints. This anonymous print shows the Queen's body lying in state and its inscriptions record the sadness felt throughout Britain at her death.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Given by Edgar Seligman |
| Object history | By an unknown engraver; published in London by John Overton (born in 1640, died possibly in 1708) |
| Summary | Object Type This print is an engraving. The image was made by cutting lines into the surface of a flat piece of metal, inking the plate and then transferring the ink held in the lines on to a sheet of paper. Subject Depicted Mary II died on the 28 December 1694. Her embalmed corpse was taken to Whitehall Palace, London, where the body remained until the funeral in Westminster Abbey on the 5 March 1695. Although this print claims to show the Queen lying in state, it does not match contemporary accounts of the scene. These describe a coffin on which were placed cushions bearing the crown, sceptre, orb, sword and gauntlet. In fact, the effigy and tomb-like structure in this print are copied from an earlier print of 1620. The earlier one shows the tomb of Elizabeth I and was published in Heroologia Anglica, a collection of plates showing images of famous English men and women. It is unlikely that the anonymous engraver actually saw Queen Mary lying in state. Instead, he has used the effigy and tomb in the earlier print as a model for his portrayal of the temporary dais on which, in reality, the coffin rested before the funeral. Ownership & Use Queen Mary was extremely popular with her subjects and this type of print served as a powerful expression of public grief at her death. There would have been a huge demand for such images and printmakers would have been keen to cater for this demand. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.4092-1960 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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