Jester Collection (#7)

Portrait of Carlo Antonio Bertinazzi (1710-1783), 1740s. Found in the Collection of the Petit Palais, Musee des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris

Salon des Cents, 1893 (lithograph in colours)
1766904 Salon des Cents, 1893 (lithograph in colours) by Ibels, Henri-Gabriel (1867-1936); 60x41 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Salon des Cents. Henri Gabriel Ibels (1860-1936)

A Meissen portrait pipe-bowl of the court jester Frohlich, c. 1742 (porcelain)
1766874 A Meissen portrait pipe-bowl of the court jester Frohlich, c.1742 (porcelain) by German School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

A jester with a cat (oil on canvas)
2632080 A jester with a cat (oil on canvas) by Jordaens, Jacob (1593-1678) (studio of); 84.5x72.1 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; Flemish, out of copyright

Advertising poster for Guignolets Cointreau, c. 1900 (colour lithograph)
1770042 Advertising poster for Guignolets Cointreau, c.1900 (colour lithograph) by Oge, Eugene (1869-1936); 137x99 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertising poster for Guignolets Cointreau)

The Circus (oil on canvas)
989674 The Circus (oil on canvas) by Beyle, Pierre Marie (1838-1902); 92.4x65.4 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Circus. Pierre Marie Beyle (1838-1902). Oil on canvas

Pierrot, 1886 (oil on canvas)
989805 Pierrot, 1886 (oil on canvas) by Comerre, Leon Francois (1850-1916); 71.7x40 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Pierrot. Leon Francois Comerre (1850-1916). Oil on canvas

A Troop of Actors Performing Before a Crowd, (oil on panel)
659270 A Troop of Actors Performing Before a Crowd, (oil on panel) by Naiveu, Matthys (1647-1721); 39.5x48 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: A Troop of Actors Performing Before a Crowd)

The Jester; Le Bouffon, 1868 (oil on canvas)
823620 The Jester; Le Bouffon, 1868 (oil on canvas) by Blanchard, Edouard-Theophile (1844-79); 146.5x241 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Jester; Le Bouffon)

The Pied Piper and the Children, (pen and black ink and watercolour, laid on card)
651962 The Pied Piper and the Children, (pen and black ink and watercolour, laid on card) by Rackham, Arthur (1867-1939); 21.5x13.8 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

Hop-Frog by Edgar Allan Poe
3756193 Hop-Frog by Edgar Allan Poe by Rackham, Arthur (1867-1939); (add.info.: Hop-Frog by Edgar Allan Poe. Illustration by Arthur Rackham (1867-1939)

Hospital staff and patients (b / w photo)
3643125 Hospital staff and patients (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Hospital staff and patients)

A Victorian trade advertising card of a baby in a crib decorated with daisies holding a
3603709 A Victorian trade advertising card of a baby in a crib decorated with daisies holding a toy jester, c.1880 (colour litho) by English School

A Victorian New Year card of a child lifting a net curtail to look at a jester
3603600 A Victorian New Year card of a child lifting a net curtail to look at a jester and ball on the floor, c.1880 (colour litho) by English School

Edwardian postcard of Father Christmas decorating a Christmas tree, c. 1910 (colour litho)
3605145 Edwardian postcard of Father Christmas decorating a Christmas tree, c.1910 (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; Photo eDavid Pearson; English, out of copyright

Victorian Christmas card of a waking jester caught in a village stocks, c
3603944 Victorian Christmas card of a waking jester caught in a village stocks, c.1880 (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; Photo eDavid Pearson; English

Contestants equipped for a tournament, c. 1640 (pen and ink, watercolour and washes)
3493110 Contestants equipped for a tournament, c.1640 (pen and ink, watercolour and washes) by German School, (17th century); Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The Jester (engraving)
6016518 The Jester (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Jester. Illustration for The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News)

Kissing advice for women (colour litho)
5999923 Kissing advice for women (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Kissing advice for women. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Fair on St Sebastians Day, c. 1598 (oil on panel)
5672001 Fair on St Sebastians Day, c.1598 (oil on panel) by Savery, Jacob I (c.1545-1602); 41.2x61.9 cm; Mauritshuis, The Hague

Chronicle of Nuremberg from its foundation to 1603, SCHEMBART BOOK, 1603 (parchment)
6308575 Chronicle of Nuremberg from its foundation to 1603, SCHEMBART BOOK, 1603 (parchment) by German School, (17th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Unruly Classroom (oil on panel)
5888691 The Unruly Classroom (oil on panel) by Naiveu, Matthys (1647-1721); 33.1x40.6 cm; Private Collection; eLawrence Steigrad Fine Arts, New York; Dutch, out of copyright

A Court-Fool, of 15th Century (chromolitho)
668449 A Court-Fool, of 15th Century (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Court-Fool, of 15th Century, Fac-simile of a miniature from a ms. in the Bibl)

Musician and dancing fool, 14th Century (coloured engraving)
976133 Musician and dancing fool, 14th Century (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Musician and dancing fool, 14th Century)

Pope Clement VII marrying Catherine de Medici and Henri II of France, 28th October 1533
741960 Pope Clement VII marrying Catherine de Medici and Henri II of France, 28th October 1533, from the Sala di Clemente VII (fresco) by Vasari

Jester, Christmas Card (chromolitho)
731233 Jester, Christmas Card (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Jester, Christmas Card.); Look and Learn / Valerie Jackson Harris Collection; English

Big Celebration, Christmas Card (chromolitho)
730751 Big Celebration, Christmas Card (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Big Celebration)

William Somers (engraving)
665482 William Somers (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: William Somers. Illustration for A Biographical History of England by J Granger (William Baynes)

Jeffrey Hudson, English court dwarf and jester at the court of King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria (chromolitho)
2788778 Jeffrey Hudson, English court dwarf and jester at the court of King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria (chromolitho) by European School

The Scarlet Mr Es and their Jester, the Famous Masked Entertainers, Palace Theatre, Brighton Date: early 20th century

Three people in fancy dress; two adults in exotic Arabian Nights style outfits, while a little boy (or girl?) appears to be dressed as a medieval jester or similar. Date: 1910-1920

King Henry V of England boarding Trinity at Southampton
King Henry V of England boarding the Trinity at Southampton, 10 August 1415. The king in crown, helm and suit of armor. Knights in plate armor with comical helmets

German womens costumes of the late 15th century. In dress adorned with gold on the collar and sleeves. From a painting in the collection of Katharina Sattler, Mainburg Castle

The Pantomime (colour litho)
STC255610 The Pantomime (colour litho) by English School; Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; English, out of copyright

Hob Selling Beer at the Wake, c. 1725 (oil on canvas)
XYC261680 Hob Selling Beer at the Wake, c.1725 (oil on canvas) by Laguerre, John (1688-1746); 88.9x92.7 cm; Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, USA; Paul Mellon Collection; English

The Older One Gets, the More Foolish One Becomes (oil on canvas)
PWI96955 The Older One Gets, the More Foolish One Becomes (oil on canvas) by Massys or Metsys, Quentin (c.1466-1530); Musee de la Chartreuse, Douai, France; ePeter Willi; Netherlandish

A Magician, printed by Fernique (litho) (b / w photo)
XJF136779 A Magician, printed by Fernique (litho) (b/w photo) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; French, out of copyright

Chaucer at the Court of Edward III - Study, 1845 (pencil on paper)
BIR100710 Chaucer at the Court of Edward III - Study, 1845 (pencil on paper) by Brown, Ford Madox (1821-93); Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery; (add.info)

Staffordshire jug decorated with Harlequin figures and carnival theme
HMP211097 Staffordshire jug decorated with Harlequin figures and carnival theme, 1866 (ironstone china) by English School, (19th century); height: 32 cm; Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston

Title page for Fables by Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian (1755-94) from
CHT163766 Title page for Fables by Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian (1755-94) from Le Miroir de la Verite (engraving) (b/w photo) by Grandville (Jean Ignace Isidore Gerard) (1803-47)

Ball at the Court of Francis I (1494-1547) 1909 (litho)
CHT166635 Ball at the Court of Francis I (1494-1547) 1909 (litho) by Robida, Albert (1848-1926); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Tournament, made by a Brussels workshop, c. 1582-85 (tapestry) (detail)
XIR173760 The Tournament, made by a Brussels workshop, c.1582-85 (tapestry) (detail) by Heere, Lucas de (1534-84) (after); Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Tuscany

Reproduction of a poster advertising an Ambassadors Concert
STC138822 Reproduction of a poster advertising an Ambassadors Concert, Champs Elysees, Paris, 1884 (colour litho) by Cheret

Front cover of the music score for Tom Foolery Lancers, by H. L
NBR140561 Front cover of the music score for Tom Foolery Lancers, by H. L. D Arcy Jaxone, 1898 (colour litho) by Banks, H. G. (19th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

The Dance
AGN48121 The Dance by Lancret, Nicolas (1690-1743); Private Collection; Photo eAgnew s, London; French, out of copyright

King Henry VI of England married to Margaret of Anjou at Titchfield Abbey, 23 April 1445
6337264 King Henry VI of England married to Margaret of Anjou at Titchfield Abbey, 23 April 1445 by Leech, John (1817-64) (after); (add.info)

Masked Ball
FIA5405500 Masked Ball by Hermans, Charles (1839-1924); 321x401 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Masked Ball by Hermans, Charles (1839-1924)

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

The jester, a timeless symbol of mirth and folly, has captivated audiences throughout history. From the Jolly Joker Playing Card to the Italian painting by Casimiro Tomba depicting a Drunk Warrior and Court Jester, their presence is undeniable. In one image, we see a jester carrying a wassail bowl, spreading cheer with every step. Another snapshot showcases Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise receiving the prestigious Joint Showbiz Award for their comedic genius. Even in Christmas cards adorned with Shakespearean jesters, they bring laughter to our festive celebrations. Just like Gulliver in Brobdingnag or Hamlet at the Grave, jesters have always been there to lighten even the darkest moments. Les Saltimbanques immortalized on canvas in 1874 captures their vibrant energy as they entertain crowds under colorful tents. No discussion about jesters would be complete without mentioning Carnival in Venice - an extravaganza where these mischievous characters reign supreme. Their cap and bells create an aura of whimsy that enchants all who witness them perform. And let's not forget the 16th-century red and yellow Jesters Cap costume map of the world - a playful representation of how jesters transcend borders and cultures with their universal appeal. Whether it's through art or live performances, jesters continue to remind us of the power of laughter, and are more than just entertainers; they are keepers of joy who remind us not to take life too seriously.