Jesters Collection

Jolly Joker Playing Card
A classic image of a jester, wearing cap and bells, playing a flute, a ninny stick, or jesters wand, attached to his belt

The Yeoman of the Guard by Ws Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan
Promotional postcard for The Yeomen of the Guard by W. S. Gilbert; music Arthur Sullivan. First produced Savoy Theatre, 3rd October 1888

Christmas card, Shakespearean jesters
Christmas Card - May you be merry and lack nothing (based on a quotation from Shakespeares Henry IV Part 2) - two medieval jesters dancing. circa 1935

Jester in cap and bells
A jester, traditionally dressed in cap and bells, holding a stick with a jesters likeness, variously known as a jester stick, fools wand or ninny stick

16th century red and yellow Jesters Cap costume map of the world
16th century Jesters Cap map of the world 1590

The Joker - Playing Card
A classic image of a jester, wearing cap and bells, playing a flute, a ninny stick, or jesters wand, attached to his belt. Date: 19th century

Jester Playing Flute
A French jester with his flute

15th Century Jester
A French court jester, in traditional outfit, with cap and bells, carrying a ninny stick, or jesters wand

WW2 Poster -- ENSA Entertainments, Swing Vogue
Photolithograph poster inscribed NaFI presents ENSA Entertainments for HM Forces. Its modern, its new, its bright, its Swing Vogue

Isabeau De Baviere 1389
The Queen of France, Isabeau de Baviere, enters Paris. Date: 1389

Louisiana, New Orleans, Mardi Gras Jester Statue, Riverwalk

Arabesques with Frolicking Putti, Animals, and Jesters, c. 1750. Creator: Unknown
Arabesques with Frolicking Putti, Animals, and Jesters, c. 1750

A medieval court jester
A court jester - a historical entertainer either employed to entertain a ruler or other nobility in medieval or Tudor times

Queen Ellizabeth I being entertained by jesters (litho)
3105690 Queen Ellizabeth I being entertained by jesters (litho) by Skinner, Edward Frederick (1865-1924); Private Collection; (add.info.: Queen Ellizabeth I being entertained by jesters)

Sierra Leone - Gbangbama Devils (Native Jesters). Sierra Leone has a rich cultural history, with a strong presence of traditional local mascots, who (to this day) appear in the form of devils

USA, Louisiana, New Orleans, Riverwalk, Mardi Gras jester statue

Diary
Leaf from a diary, paper. Dated December (1644) to February 1645. Has a foolscap (jester's head) watermark. Date: 1644 - 1645

Raising Loans from Navis Stultifera (Ship of Fools), Plate 24 from Woodcuts from... 1929
Raising Loans from Navis Stultifera (Ship of Fools), Plate 24 from Woodcuts from Books of the 15th Century, 1497, portfolio assembled 1929

Stage Design for Tales of Hoffmann by Offenbach, 1915 (w / c & ink on paper)
BAL240129 Stage Design for Tales of Hoffmann by Offenbach, 1915 (w/c & ink on paper) by Sudeikin, Sergei Yurevich (1882-1946); 47.5x67.8 cm; State Central A.A

Columbine, illustration for Fetes Galantes by Paul Verlaine (1844-96) 1928 (pochoir print)
STC237079 Columbine, illustration for Fetes Galantes by Paul Verlaine (1844-96) 1928 (pochoir print) by Barbier, Georges (1882-1932); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection

Extremes Meet (engraving)
1597216 Extremes Meet (engraving) by Partridge, Bernard John (1861-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: Extremes Meet. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 27 February 1897)

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)

R. I. Historical costume ball by John Hassall
Scenes from the historical costume ball of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour, with the various history-themed entertainments, devised by Master of Ceremonies, John Hassall

Woman in costume as a Marotte (jesters stick) for a masquerade ball. Handcoloured lithograph by Chatiniere published by Martinet, Paris, 1880s

Alexina Desclozas as Dona Juana in La Camargo, 1879
Alexina Desclozas as Dona Juana in La Camargo performed at the Theatre de la Renaissance, 1879. Handcoloured lithograph by Chatiniere published by Martinet, Paris, 1879

The Christmas Fool of the Middle Ages (engraving)
2772511 The Christmas Fool of the Middle Ages (engraving) by Meadows, Joseph Kenny (1770-1874) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Christmas Fool of the Middle Ages)

The Court-Fool (engraving)
3637305 The Court-Fool (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Court-Fool. Illustration for The Graphic and Historical Illustrator edited by E W Brayley)

Archie Armstrong (engraving)
3629741 Archie Armstrong (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Archie Armstrong. Illustration from The Book of Days (W R Chambers, c 1870)

May I kiss whom I please and please whom I kiss (colour litho)
3643451 May I kiss whom I please and please whom I kiss (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: May I kiss whom I please and please whom I kiss)

Ceremonie des Cendres Politique, from La Caricature, pub. 1833 (hand coloured lithograph)
3258457 Ceremonie des Cendres Politique, from La Caricature, pub. 1833 (hand coloured lithograph) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Fine Feathers Make Fine Birds (engraving)
1613779 Fine Feathers Make Fine Birds (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Fine Feathers Make Fine Birds)

An Old-Time Christmas Welcome, in the Dark Ages (litho)
1601418 An Old-Time Christmas Welcome, in the Dark Ages (litho) by Forestier, Amedee (1854-1930) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: An Old-Time Christmas Welcome, in the Dark Ages)

Though Lost to Sight, to Memory Dear (chromolitho)
1054372 Though Lost to Sight, to Memory Dear (chromolitho) by Lucas, John Seymour (1849-1923) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Though Lost to Sight, to Memory Dear)

Dance Folie (etching)
1067954 Dance Folie (etching) by Rops, Felicien (1833-98); 15.6x8.6 cm; Dallas Museum of Art, Texas, USA; Foundation for the Arts Collection, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred L

A comedy in three acts (colour litho)
726977 A comedy in three acts (colour litho) by Brock, Charles Edmund (1870-1938); Private Collection; (add.info.: An ill-timed jest: a comedy in three acts)

Pillars of the State (engraving)
1603454 Pillars of the State (engraving) by Browne, Gordon Frederick (1858-1932) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Pillars of the State)

Like Master, Like Man (engraving)
1623068 Like Master, Like Man (engraving) by Dadd, S.T. (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Like Master, Like Man. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 2 January 1886)

Study for a composition showing a Jester, a Male Figure and a Bird
1631794 Study for a composition showing a Jester, a Male Figure and a Bird, 1845-52 (pen & ink with w/c on paper) by Leighton, Frederic (1830-96); Leighton House Museum, Kensington & Chelsea, London

Poster advertising a masked ball and carnival, at the Theatre de l Opera
AKV385139 Poster advertising a masked ball and carnival, at the Theatre de l Opera, 1894 (colour litho) by Cheret, Jules (1836-1932); Private Collection; eAckermann Kunstverlag; French

Italian Actors (red chalk on paper)
XAV418316 Italian Actors (red chalk on paper) by Watteau, Jean Antoine (1684-1721); Musee des Beaux-Arts, Valenciennes, France; (add.info.: Comediens Italiens; ); French, out of copyright

A beggar, a fool and a witch scare off the sergeants at arms (chromolitho)
964264 A beggar, a fool and a witch scare off the sergeants at arms (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A beggar)

Mrs Ternan and Mr Lewis Ball as the Countess Rousillon and her clown, Alls Well That Ends Well, Act I
971646 Mrs Ternan and Mr Lewis Ball as the Countess Rousillon and her clown, Alls Well That Ends Well, Act I, scene iii (engraving) by English School

May Day in the Fifteenth Century (engraving)
1105815 May Day in the Fifteenth Century (engraving) by Staniland, Charles J. (1838-1916) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: May Day in the Fifteenth Century)

Dan Leno, king of jesters, shown here as Idle Jack in Dick Whittington (colour litho)
559952 Dan Leno, king of jesters, shown here as Idle Jack in Dick Whittington (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Dan Leno, king of jesters)

Scene, Lawn before the Dukes Palace; Orlando about to engage with Charles, the Dukes Wrestler (engraving)
1602280 Scene, Lawn before the Dukes Palace; Orlando about to engage with Charles, the Dukes Wrestler (engraving) by Morin, Edmond (1824-82); Private Collection; (add.info.: Scene)

Friends in Council (engraving)
1106368 Friends in Council (engraving) by Watson, James Dawson (1832-92); Private Collection; (add.info.: Friends in Council)

The cast of a play in costume (b / w photo)
3093743 The cast of a play in costume (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The cast of a play in costume)

For sale as Licensed Images

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Step into the whimsical world of jesters, where laughter reigns supreme and mischief is their game. From the Jolly Joker Playing Card to Shakespearean jesters, these colorful characters have been captivating audiences for centuries. In a Christmas card adorned with a jester in cap and bells, we are reminded of the joy they bring during festive celebrations. Their 16th-century red and yellow Jesters Cap costume map of the world showcases their global presence as entertainers. The mischievous spirit can also be found in The Joker - Playing Card, a symbol of unpredictability and fun. During World War II, ENSA Entertainments enlisted these talented performers to lift spirits with Swing Vogue music. Imagine a jester playing flute melodies that transport you back to medieval times when court jesters entertained kings and queens. In Isabeau De Baviere's diary from 1389, she recounts the delightful antics of her favorite jester. They have even made appearances on stage in iconic works like "The Yeoman of the Guard" by W. S Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. Their comedic timing brings laughter to audiences worldwide. Traveling across continents, Louisiana's New Orleans proudly displays Mardi Gras Jester Statues along its vibrant Riverwalk. These statues capture the essence of this lively festival where jesters take center stage. Whether through art or literature, jesters continue to captivate our imagination with their playful nature and witty charm. So next time you come across a jester's image or encounter one in person, allow yourself to be swept away by their enchanting world filled with laughter and merriment.