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 William Camden (2 May 1551 – 9 November 1623) was an English antiquarian, historian, topographer, and herald, best known as author of ''Britannia'', the first chorographical survey of the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, and the ''Annal ...

's ''Historie''), but his life is practically unknown.

Sidney Colvin Sir Sidney Colvin (18 June 1845 – 11 May 1927) was a British curator and literary and art critic, part of the illustrious Anglo-Indian Colvin family. He is primarily remembered for his friendship with Robert Louis Stevenson. Family and early ...

wrote that Delaram, most likely, was born in

Flanders Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, ...

. The "frolicsome revels of the musical cherubs" that adorn Delaram's prints indicate strong influence of the Flemish school. Delaram could have been trained by Cornelis Boel, who illustrated the first edition of the

King James Bible The King James Version (KJV), also the King James Bible (KJB) and the Authorized Version, is an Bible translations into English, English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, which was commissioned in 1604 and publis ...

(1611).Salaman, p. 16. Poor execution of the background in Delaram's portrait of

Charles I of England Charles I (19 November 1600 – 30 January 1649) was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until Execution of Charles I, his execution in 1649. He was born into the House of Stuart as the second son of King James VI of ...

according to Shapiro, gives away the contribution of another person employed by Delaram.

Malcolm Charles Salaman Malcolm Charles Salaman (6 September 1855 – 22 January 1940) was an English author, journalist and critic. He was born and died in London. Life He was educated at University College School and at Owens College, Manchester. Although he had studi ...

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). Salaman wrote that the "vitality of isadmirable prints" is a strong indication that his portraits of

Matthias de Lobel Mathias de l'Obel, Mathias de Lobel or Matthaeus Lobelius (1538 – 3 March 1616) was a Flemish physician and plant enthusiast who was born in Lille, Flanders, in what is now Hauts-de-France, France, and died at Highgate, London, England. He ...

George Wither George Wither (11 June 1588 O.S. (21 June 1588 NS) – 2 May 1667 O.S. (12 May 1667 NS)) was a prolific English poet, pamphleteer, satirist and writer of hymns. Wither's long life spanned one of the most tumultuous periods in the history of En ...

and

Horace Vere Horace Vere, 1st Baron Vere of Tilbury (1565 – 2 May 1635) (also ''Horatio Vere'' or ''Horatio de Vere'') was an English military leader during the Eighty Years' War and the Thirty Years' War, a brother of Francis Vere. He was sent to the Pa ...

were drawn from life.Salaman, p. 17. His portraits of

Elizabeth I of England Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. Elizabeth was the last of the five House of Tudor monarchs and is ...

, however, were made after original paintings by

Nicholas Hilliard Nicholas Hilliard () was an English goldsmith and limner best known for his portrait miniatures of members of the courts of Elizabeth I and James I of England. He mostly painted small oval miniatures, but also some larger cabinet miniatures, ...

, who expressly authorized one of the prints.Auerbach, p. 41.

References

;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. . * 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. . * Vallance, Aymer (1908).
Art in England During the Elizabethan and Stuart Periods
'. 2008 reprint: READ BOOKS. .

External links

Works by Delaram
at the

National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery may refer to: *National Portrait Gallery (Australia), in Canberra *National Portrait Gallery (Sweden), in Mariefred *National Portrait Gallery (United States), in Washington, D.C. *National Portrait Gallery, London, with s ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Delaram, Francis 1627 deaths English engravers 17th-century English people Year of birth uncertain