Interpreting the Visual Evidence
The Execution of a King
This allegorical engraving
(image A) accompanied
a pamphlet
called Eikon Basilike
("The Kingly Image"),
which began to circulate in Britain just
weeks after the execution of King
Charles I. It purported to be an autobiographical
account of the king's last days
and a justification of his royal policies. It
was intended to arouse widespread sympathy
for the king and his exiled heir,
Charles II, and it succeeded admirably:
the cult of Charles "King and Martyr"
became increasingly popular. Here, the
Latin inscription on the shaft of light
suggests that Charles' piety will beam
"brighter through the shadows," while
the scrolls at the left proclaim that
"virtue grows beneath weight" and "unmoved,
triumphant." Charles' earthly
crown (on the floor at his side) is "splendid
and heavy," while the crown of
thorns he grasps is "bitter and light" and
the heavenly crown is "blessed and eternal."
Even people who could not read
these and other Latin mottoes would
have known that Charles' last words
were: "I shall go from a corruptible to an
incorruptible Crown, where no disturbance
can be."
At the same time, broadsides showing
the moment of execution (image B)
circulated in various European countries
with explanatory captions. This one was printed in Germany, and there are almost
identical versions surviving from
the Netherlands. It shows members of
the crowd fainting and turning away at
the sight of blood spurting from the
king's neck, while the executioner holds
up the severed head.
Images
Questions for Analysis
1. fiogf49gjkf0d fiogf49gjkf0d How would you interpret the message
of the first image? How might it have
been read differently by Catholics and
by Protestants, within Britain and in
Europe? |
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2. fiogf49gjkf0d fiogf49gjkf0d What would have been the political
motives underlying the publication
and display of these images? For example,
would you expect the depiction
of the king’s execution to be
intended as supportive of monarchy,
or as antiroyalist? Why? |
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3. fiogf49gjkf0d fiogf49gjkf0d Given what you have learned about
political and religious divisions in
Europe at the time of the king’s execution,
where do you think the first
image would have found the most
sympathetic audiences? Why might
it be significant that the second
circulated more in Germany and the
Netherlands, rather than in France or
Spain? |
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