[The stabbing of Matilda] [art original].

A scene from Horace Walpole's Gothic novel The castle of Otranto, with the characters Matilda and Theodore shown at center talking in a church, one on either side of the statue marking the tomb of Alphonso; Theodore wears full armor and Matilda wears an orange gown. Behind Matilda on the right is Manfred, who interrupts the conversation by reaching over Maltida's shoulder and stabbing her with the dagger held in his left hand. The interior of the church forms the background, with statues in alcoves along the wall on the right and a row of arched windows along the wall on the left