The Murder of Rizzio

The Murder of Rizzio is a 1787 history painting by the British painter John Opie. It depicts a scene from Scottish history. 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. Today the painting is in the Guildhall [Art Gallery] in the City of London, having been presented by John Boydell in 1793.