Intercession of Queen Philippa

DESCRIPTION: The image is a 19th-century steel engraving titled "Intercession of Queen Philippa," depicting Queen Philippa of Hainault kneeling before her husband, King Edward III, to plead for the lives of the burghers of Calais during the Hundred Years' War. During the Hundred Years' War, King Edward III of England laid a gruelling, year-long siege to the French port city of Calais. When the starved city finally surrendered in 1347, Edward demanded that six of its principal citizens (burghers) surrender themselves in their shirts, with nooses around their necks, and carry the keys to the city to be executed in exchange for sparing the rest of the population. The Burghers are shown clad in simple tunics with ropes around their necks. The pregnant Queen Consort kneels before her husband to passionately beg for their lives. Her mercy successfully moved the King to spare the men. STYLE: Engraving COLOUR: Monochrome SIZE (cm; mount board typically a few mm larger): 20 x 17 CREATORS: PUBLICATION: William Hickman Smith Aubrey's The National and Domestic History of England PUBLISHER: London: J Hagger DATE: C19 COMMENTS: Excellent condition with some patina from its antiquity SUBJECT: Works of Art; Events PACKAGE: Single one-sided sheet in acid-free mount, flat & unfolded inside hard-backed envelope. Royal Mail Tracked 24 included. Note: Images are provided for illustration purposes only and are intended to show the complete printed product, including any imperfections of age that may be present. Frames or props shown in the images are for display purposes only and are not included with your purchase.