| The Murder of Rizzio | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | John Opie |
| Year | 1787 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, history painting |
| Dimensions | 239 cm× 287 cm(94 in× 113 in) |
| Location | Guildhall Art Gallery, London |
The Murder of Rizzio is a 1787 history painting by the British artist John Opie. [1] It depicts a scene from Scottish history. [2] 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. [3] Today the painting is in the Guildhall Art Gallery in the City of London, having been presented by John Boydell in 1793. [4]