The artwork, titled “Edward I of England kills his would-be assassin in June 1272,” was created by Gustave Doré in 1877 through the medium of lithography. It belongs to the Romanticism art movement and falls under the genre of illustration. This particular piece is part of the series “Bibliotheque des Croisades” and is currently held in a private collection.
The artwork captures a dramatic and intense moment rendered in fine detail and strong contrast. It depicts a historic scene where Edward I of England defends himself from an assassin. Edward, emerging vigorously from a richly adorned bed, clutches the wrists of his assailant, preventing the thrust of a dagger. The setting is a medieval interior, characterized by an elaborately carved bed canopy and an arched window that bathes the scene in subdued light. The artist’s meticulous attention to textures and his dramatic use of light and shadow vividly convey the urgency and intensity of the confrontation. Each element, from the patterned floor to the folds in the garments, is rendered with exquisite precision, capturing the Romantic fascination with historical and heroic moments.
