Francis Delaram

Francis Delaram (born around 1590, fl. 1615–1624[1] or 1627[2]), was an English engraver.[3]

Fragment of a portrait of Elizabeth I of England engraved by Delaram after an original by Nicholas Hilliard.

Delaram left a substantial collection of engraved portraits, landscapes and book illustrations (specifically, William Camden's Historie), but his life is practically unknown. Sidney Colvin wrote that Delaram, most likely, was born in Flanders.[4] The "frolicsome revels of the musical cherubs" that adorn Delaram's prints indicate strong influence of the Flemish school.[4] Delaram could have been trained by Cornelis Boel, who illustrated the first edition of the King James Bible (1611).[4] Poor execution of the background in Delaram's portrait of Charles I of England[5] according to Shapiro, give away the contribution of another person employed by Delaram.[6]

Malcolm Charles Salaman and Aymer Vallance noted that male portraits by Delaram stand out for their "grasp of character" but that "when he essayed the Court beauties he was far from justifying their reputation" (Vallance).[7] Salaman wrote that the "vitality of [his] admirable prints" is a strong indication that his portraits of Matthias de Lobel, George Wither and Horace Vere were drawn from life.[8] His portraits of Elizabeth I of England, however, were made after original paintings by Nicholas Hilliard, who expressly authorized one of the prints.[9]

References
  1. Shapiro, p. 32. Dates attributed to Sidney Colvin and ultimately to A catalogue of engravers: who have been born, or resided in England by Sir Horace Walpole and George Vertue.
  2. Vallance, p. 110.
  3. Francis Delaram, ODNB
  4. Salaman, p. 16.
  5. The background presents the landscape of London's Bankside with the original Globe Theatre.
  6. Shapiro, p. 32.
  7. Vallance, p. 110. Salaman, pp. 17-18.
  8. Salaman, p. 17.
  9. Auerbach, p. 41.
Sources
  • Auerbach, Etna (1961). Nicholas Hilliard. London: Routledge and Kegan.
  • Salaman, M. C. (1906). The Old Engravers of England in Their Relation to Contemporary Life and Art 1540 to 1800. 2005 reprint: Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 1-4179-5119-2.
  • I. A. Shapiro (2002). The Bankside Theatres: Early Engravings, in: Nicoll, Allardyce (2002). Shakespeare Survey. Volume 1 of Shakespeare Survey Paperback Set. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-52345-1.
  • Vallance, Aymer (1908). Art in England During the Elizabethan and Stuart Periods. 2008 reprint: READ BOOKS. ISBN 1-4437-7092-2.
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