Will Sommers, Kinge Henryes Jester

Art Historical Context

Step into the lively world of Tudor England with *Will Sommers, Kingees Jester*, a engraving by Francis Delaram created between 1551 and1600. This intimate print, measuring just 21.3 × 11.5 cm, the whimsical figure of William Sommers, beloved court jester to King Henry VIII.aram, a skilled English engraver active in the late Elizabethan and Jacobean eras, in portrait prints that brought historical personalities to life for a growing audience of collectors. Engraving, the medium here, was a revolutionary technique in the 16th century: artists incised fine lines into copper plates, inked them, and pressed paper to create detailed, reproducible images. This allowed works like Delaram's to circulate widely, democratizing access to royal court culture. Sommers, known for his sharp wit and antics, embodied the jester's dual role as entertainer and truth-teller, offering satire amid the opulence of Henry's reign. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Rosenwald Collection, this print offers a rare glimpse into Renaissance England's blend of humor and hierarchy, reminding us how fools like Sommers humanized the mighty. A charming artifact of printmaking's golden age!

About the Artist

Francis Delaram · 1590–1627

Francis Delaram (c. 1590–1627) was a prolific English engraver active in London during the early Jacobean era, producing several hundred plates that captured the likenesses of monarchs, nobles, and scholars. Flourishing from around 1615, he specialized in line engravings for portraits, title pages, and book illustrations, often working after prominent painters. His output contributed significantly...