(Venice 1791–1881 Milan)
Mary Stuart Receiving Her Death Sentence, c. 1827, oil on panel 49 x 59.5 cm, framed

Provenance:
Private Collection, Italy.

Exhibited:
Bergamo, Accademia Carrara, Tutta in voi la luce mia - Pittura di storia e melodrama, 29 September 2023 – 14 January 2024.

Catalogued and illustrated in:
Exhibition catalogue, Elena Lissoni, Fernando Mazzocca, M. Cristina Rodeschini, Tutta in voi la luce mia - Pittura di storia e melodramma, Skira ed. Milan, pp. 106, 107, no. III. 3.

The subject of this painting by Francesco Hayez, inspired by Friedrich Schiller’s eponymous tragedy (1759-1805) and the History of the Kingdom of Scotland by William Robertson (1721-1793), depicts the announcement of Mary Stuart's death sentence by the Earls of Kent and Shrewsbury. Mary was in prison, ostensibly for the murder of her husband Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, but in reality because of her claim to the throne of England. Mary listens to the end without emotion, makes the sign of the cross then stretches out her hand over a Bible, which happens to be lying next to her. She solemnly protests that she was innocent of the conspiracy against the life of Elisabeth I of England. The final version of this subject (195 x 240 cm) dates to 1832 and is preceded by two small, almost identical sketches on wood, both executed in 1827. The unpublished one is presented here and the other, connected to the painting, is in the Pinacoteca di Brera (Francesco Hayez, catalogue raisonné, Fernando Mazzocca, 1994, p.178, no.100). The tragedy of the unhappy Queen of Scots, favoured by Romantic culture for her character’s tragic dimension, enjoyed extraordinary literary and theatrical popularity throughout the 19th century, of which Schiller's play (1800) in 5 acts is but the best known example.