Henry VIII with his Three Children and Will Sommers - Francesco Bartolozzi

A refined stipple engraving by Francesco Bartolozzi, depicting King Henry VIII with his children and court jester, based on an original design by Hans Holbein.

This stipple engraving by Francesco Bartolozzi, published in 1800, reproduces a composition attributed to Hans Holbein the Younger. The print depicts King Henry VIII standing behind a table, flanked by his children: the future Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. To the left, the court jester Will Sommers is visible. Bartolozzi, a master of the stipple technique, uses a dense arrangement of dots to create subtle tonal gradations, mimicking the soft transitions of a drawing or painting. The composition is arranged in a linear fashion, with the figures positioned behind a horizontal plane. The king occupies the left side, his heavy, ornate garments rendered with precise attention to texture and pattern. The children are depicted with a sense of youthful gravity, their costumes reflecting the formal attire of the Tudor court. The background is kept relatively simple, featuring a draped curtain that adds a sense of depth without distracting from the primary subjects. Bartolozzi was a highly skilled engraver who moved to London in 1764 and became a founding member of the Royal Academy. His work was instrumental in popularising the stipple method in Britain, a technique that allowed for a painterly quality in printmaking. This specific work demonstrates his ability to translate complex historical portraiture into a medium that was accessible to a wider audience. The print captures the formal hierarchy of the Tudor dynasty, presenting the figures in a manner that balances individual characterisation with the requirements of royal iconography. The inclusion of Will Sommers adds a layer of courtly narrative, providing a contrast to the regal presence of the monarch and his heirs.