Who painted Will Sommers, Kinge Henryes Jester?

Will Sommers, Kinge Henryes Jester was painted by Francis Delaram in 1608.

Where can I see Will Sommers, Kinge Henryes Jester?

Will Sommers, Kinge Henryes Jester is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Will Sommers, Kinge Henryes Jester?

Will Sommers, Kinge Henryes Jester is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Will Sommers, Kinge Henryes Jester

Francis Delaram , 1608

Will Sommers, Kinge Henryes Jester is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Francis Delaram. It dates from 1608 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Francis Delaram’s 1608 copper‑plate engraving presents Will Sommers, the celebrated fool of King Henry VIII’s court. The image captures the jester in elaborate costume, thumb raised in a gesture of approval while clutching a horn. Decorative borders frame the central figure, and a modest landscape with a church spire and miniature game scenes fills the background.

Subject & Meaning

Will Sommers, long associated with Henry VIII’s household, is rendered here as a lively entertainer, his flamboyant attire and the horn emphasizing his role in courtly amusement. The accompanying verse at the bottom, referencing the horn, underscores the jester’s function as a source of merriment and commentary within the Tudor court.

Technique & Style

Delaram employed the fine line work typical of early‑17th‑century English engraving, using cross‑hatching to model flesh and fabric. The decorative elements surrounding the figure reveal a Flemish influence, while the restrained treatment of the background demonstrates the period’s preference for a clear, readable composition on a relatively small plate.

History & Provenance

Francis Delaram, active as an engraver from roughly 1615 to 1624, produced portraits and book illustrations, including contributions to William Camden’s Historie. Though the print dates to 1608, it reflects Delaram’s later stylistic development. Surviving copies are found in several European print collections, attesting to the work’s circulation among collectors of Tudor portraiture.

Artist & collection

Artist

Francis Delaram

Francis Delaram (born around 1590, fl. 1615–1624 or 1627), was an English engraver. Delaram left a substantial collection of engraved portraits, landscapes and book illustrations (specifically, William Camden's…