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Gunpowder Plot Conspirators

Unknown 19th Century

1850

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Gunpowder Plot Conspirators is a 1850 ink by Unknown 19th Century, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown 19th Century
When & what style?: 1850 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving shows seven men in a tight group, all wearing big hats and serious expressions. One man in the center holds a barrel—maybe gunpowder—while others lean in or gesture. Their faces look tense, and the lines of the drawing make them look dramatic. The background is plain, so all the focus stays on them. The names above their heads are real people tied to a famous event in English history. The artist used sharp lines and shading to make the scene feel urgent. Try looking up engraving to see how artists create detailed images like this with just ink and lines.