L'Assassinat de [The murder of ] David Rizzio d'après Giacomo Guarana. Original stipple engraving.

[London: William Parlmer, 1790 ]. Stipple engraving; 32.5 x 39.2cm., sheet size. Text below the artists names likely trimmed off. Likely a later printing on wove paper....De Vesme/Calabi, no. 534...Calabi & De Vesme 1928 / Francesco Bartolozzi. Catalogue des estampes et notice biographique d'après les manuscrits de A. De Vesme entièrement réformés et complétés d'une étude critique par A. Calabi (534.III)....The Royal Collection Trust,:On the night of Saturday, 9 March 1566 Mary, Queen of Scots’ private secretary, David Rizzio, was murdered in the queen's private chambers at the Palace of Holyroodhouse...Seven months earlier, Mary had married Lord Darnley in the Palace Chapel. She was 22 and he was just 19.It was not a happy marriage. Lord Darnley thought a lot of himself and was a violent and ambitious man who simply wanted to be king. Although he had the title, he had no real power and wanted to be in charge....He was also very jealous of Mary’s personal secretary, David Rizzio. Mary and Rizzio shared lots of interests, especially music and poetry. Lord Darnley did not like that Mary trusted Rizzio and listened to his opinions. Before long, Darnley began to plot how to get rid of him.