The Path of Most Resistance: The Life & Imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots

This is my most recent submission for They Draw And Travel. I've been obsessing over this illustration for about 3 weeks. Extensive research, maps, lineage charts, sketches upon sketches... I truly know everything there is to know about this woman, her 3 husbands, her staff, her dogs, etc. I think I may do something with Vlad the Impaler/Romania next. Ha!

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Illustration Friday: Swept

I really loved working on this illustration. I've always been fascinated with Elizabeth I. She was known as The Virgin Queen, but that wasn't because she lacked suitors. There was Philip of Spain, King Eric XIV of Sweden, and The Duke of Anjou (who she loving called "her frog"). However, it was Robert Dudley that swept her off her feet.

Robert, the first Earl of Leicester never married the Queen due to a series of unfortunate events. When his first wife, Amy Robsart, fell down a flight of stairs and died, he was free to marry the Queen. However, the rumors that he arranged for Amy's death caused too much of a scandal and ruined his chances. For 18 years he did not remarry for Queen Elizabeth's sake and when he finally did, his new wife, Lettice Knollys, was permanently banished from the court.

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