The Darnley Memorial Painting

The Darnley Memorial Painting, by the Antwerp artist Livinius de Vogelaare, was commissioned by Darnley’s parents, the Earl and Countess of Lennox. They are depicted in the painting kneeling beside the tomb of their son, with their grandson, the future James VI and I, in front of them and their other son, Charles Stewart, behind them.

In the corner is an inset picture of the encounter at Carberry Hill, where Mary is depicted as surrendering to the Confederate Lords whilst Bothwell escapes. The Lords bear a banner depicting Darnley with the words ‘Judge and avenge my cause, O Lord'.

This picture should be read as an accusation against Mary for her part in her husband’s murder and a cry for vengeance on Darnley’s murderers. The meaning is driven home by the succession of inscriptions: "Arise, O Lord, and avenge the innocent blood of the king, my father, and, I beseech you, defend me with your right hand".

And: "If they, who are already old, should be deprived of this life before the majority of their descendant, the King of Scots, he may have a memorial from them in order that he shut not out of memory the recent atrocious murder of the king his father, until God should avenge it through him.’

Source:

https://www.rct.uk/.../401230/the-memorial-of-lord-darnley