Murder of the Princes in the Tower - Francis Legat

A detailed 1790 engraving by Francis Legat, depicting a dramatic scene from Shakespeare's King Richard III based on a painting by James Northcote.

This engraving by Francis Legat depicts a scene from William Shakespeare's King Richard III, specifically Act IV, Scene III. The work is based on an original painting by James Northcote, commissioned by John Boydell for his ambitious Shakespeare Gallery project. The print captures the moment before the murder of Edward V and Richard of Shrewsbury, the young princes held captive in the Tower of London. Legat employs a sophisticated range of tonal values to convey the tension of the narrative. The composition focuses on the contrast between the vulnerable, sleeping children and the two figures looming over them. One figure, dressed in full plate armour, displays a look of grim determination, while his accomplice holds a lamp aloft, casting dramatic shadows across the bedchamber. The inclusion of a small prayer book and rosary on the bed adds a layer of pathos to the scene, emphasising the innocence of the victims. As a master of the burin, Legat demonstrates technical precision in the rendering of textures, from the metallic sheen of the armour to the soft folds of the bed linens. The work reflects the late eighteenth-century interest in literary subjects and the dramatic potential of historical themes. Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery was a significant commercial venture that sought to promote a British school of history painting, and this print represents the high standard of reproductive engraving produced during that period. The inclusion of the original text from the play at the base of the print provides context for the viewer, grounding the visual drama in the literary source material. This piece is a fine example of the collaborative efforts between painters and engravers that defined the visual culture of the era.