This is an original German engraving of the execution of King Charles I of England in 1649. It is based on the earliest European depiction of the execution of the king, which was one of the most significant events in English history. Although the monarchy was restored in 1660, the execution of the king destroyed the idea that a monarch was all- powerful and couldn’t be questioned. It also led to the rise of Parliament and was a vital step towards democracy in England. Prior to his execution, Charles was engulfed in the English Civil war, pitting royalists who favored the king against parliamentarians who wanted the voice of the people to be heard. Charles was captured, put on trial, and after his execution, the country was declared a republic and became known as the Commonwealth of England. The engraving is graphic - you can see the executioner holding the king’s head in his hands - and rumor has it that the crowd let out a huge groan when the king lost his head. Commensurate w age. Size: 9 1/4 x 12 in.