The Wasp — 1880 — page 189: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This engraving depicts **Queen Elizabeth I signing the death warrant of Mary, Queen of Scots**. The caption attributes it to a painting by A. Liezen-Mayer. The image shows Elizabeth in elaborate period costume—dark gown with jewels and an ornate headdress—leaning over a document at a table, apparently signing the execution order. The setting appears to be an interior chamber with a door visible behind her. This historical scene was a significant moment: Mary Stuart's execution in 1587 was politically controversial, and Elizabeth allegedly hesitated over authorizing it. The engraving likely appeared in *The Wasp* as illustrative content rather than satire—it depicts a famous historical moment of royal power and consequence, depicting a female monarch making a fateful decision affecting another queen.