The Abdication of Mary, Queen of Scots

Joseph Severn's Abdication of Mary, Queen of Scots from around 1850 depicts the dramatic moment when the Scottish queen was forced to renounce her throne in 1567. Severn, best remembered as the companion of the dying John Keats, spent most of his career in Rome, producing historical and literary paintings for the Anglo-Italian market. The subject of Mary Queen of Scots was irresistibly dramatic for Victorian artists, combining royalty, tragedy, and religious conflict.

Severn's oil-on-canvas technique demonstrates warm, Italianate coloring applied to a dramatic historical subject. The theatrical composition and careful period costume research reflect the Victorian approach to history painting that combined emotional drama with archaeological accuracy.