The Murder of Rizzio
| The Murder of Rizzio | |
|---|---|
| Artist | John Opie |
| Year | 1787 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, history painting |
| Dimensions | 239 cm × 287 cm (94 in × 113 in) |
| Location | Guildhall Art Gallery, London |
The Murder of Rizzio is an oil on canvas history painting by the British painter John Opie, from 1787.[1] It depicts a scene from Scottish history.[2] On 9 March 1566 the Italian courtier David Rizzio was assassinated by rivals who feared his influence over Mary, Queen of Scots.
Opie was a painter hailed as the "Cornish wonder" known in particular for his portrait paintings. The work was displayed at the Royal Academy Exhibition of 1787 at Somerset House.[3] Today the painting is in the Guildhall Art Gallery in the City of London, having been presented by John Boydell in 1793. [4]
References
Bibliography
- Levey, Michael. Sir Thomas Lawrence. Yale University Press, 2005.
- Myrone, Martin. Bodybuilding: Reforming Masculinities in British Art 1750-1810. Yale University Press, 2005.