A computer generated image of what the face of Mary, Queen of Scots, as she would have looked at the time of her reign.
Experts have recreated a “striking” image of Mary, Queen of Scots, at the time of her reign.
A team from Dundee University was commissioned to recreate a 3D virtual sculpture of Mary’s face for a new exhibition opening today in the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.
The results show not a classic beauty but someone with a large nose and strong chin.
However, the paleness of her skin, her red hair and strong features meant she did have a very striking appearance, according to Professor Caroline Wilkinson from the Forensic and Medical Art Research Group.
As there are no portraits from the time of her reign, the Professor worked from earlier and later images. Digital artist Janice Aitken sculpted clothing and hair, then added textures and lighting.
Normally, the process of craniofacial reconstruction would start by examining skeletal remains but the circumstances meant the team had a different challenge, with the model being more of an artistic than scientific representation.
Professor Wilkinson said: “This was a difficult time for her, so we wanted to show the stresses and strains of life on her face.”
