The Murder of David Rizzio

{{Short description|Painting by William Allan}}

{{Infobox artwork

| image_file=The Murder of David Rizzio.jpg

| image_size=350px

| title=The Murder of David Rizzio

| artist=William Allan

| year=1833

| type=Oil on canvas, history painting

| height_metric=102.5

| width_metric=163.6

| metric_unit=cm

| imperial_unit=in

| museum=Scottish National Gallery

| city=Edinburgh

}}

The Murder of David Rizzio is an 1833 history painting by the Scottish artist William Allan.Robson p.26Morrison p.119 It portrays the 1566 assassination of the Italian courtier David Rizzio at Holyrood Palace during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. On the left side of the canvas Mary is shown being restrained by her husband Lord Darnley. The artist took great care to be historically accurate in his depictions of the various figures portrayed in the scene.[https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/29633#:~:text=For%20centuries%2C%20the%20dramatic%20life,Sir%20William%20Allan National Galleries of Scotland] It was exhibited at the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition at Somerset House in London where it was major success.Tromans p.170 Today it is in the collection of the Scottish National Gallery, having been acquired in 1927.[https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/29633#:~:text=For%20centuries%2C%20the%20dramatic%20life,Sir%20William%20Allan National Galleries of Scotland]