Edward V and the Duke of York in the Tower

Delaroche's Edward V and the Duke of York in the Tower from 1831 depicts the two young princes—the sons of Edward IV who were lodged in the Tower of London after their uncle Richard III's coup and subsequently disappeared in circumstances that have never been fully explained—in the moment before their presumed murder. The Princes in the Tower was among the most emotionally resonant subjects in English history, combining the pathos of children in mortal danger with the Tudor-era mystery that had fascinated historians and writers for centuries. Delaroche's treatment gave the subject a quality of innocent vulnerability—the two boys in their magnificent royal dress, unaware of their fate—that proved enormously popular with both French and English audiences. The painting demonstrated his mastery of the historical subject that combined political history with intimate human drama.

The intimate chamber scene creates claustrophobic tension, with the two frightened boys illuminated by a single light source. Delaroche's meticulous rendering of period costume and interior details creates a convincingly historical setting for this emotional drama.