William Sommers, King Henry VIII's Jester
1551 to 1600
Medium
facsimile
Dimensions
plate: 22.4 × 12.7 cm (8 13/16 × 5 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1950.14.1125
Art Historical Context
This engraving, created by Francis Delaram between 1551 and 1600, presents a facsimile portrait of William Sommers, the celebrated jester at the court of King Henry VIII. Sommers served as a trusted entertainer and confidant to the Tudor monarch, embodying the unique role court fools played in Renaissance England. Through wit and performance, jesters like Sommers offered both amusement and subtle counsel, navigating the dangerous politics of the royal household. As a print medium, this work highlights the growing importance of reproductive techniques in the sixteenth century. Facsimiles allow...
About the Artist
Francis Delaram
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...