Paul van Somer
(circa 1576-1621), Portrait painterArtist associated with 36 portraits
Paul Van Somer was a Flemish artist who arrived in England from Antwerp during the reign of King James I of England and became one of the leading painters of the royal court. He painted a number of portraits both of James and his consort, Queen Anne of Denmark, and of nobles such as Ludovic Stuart, earl of Lennox, and Lady Anne Clifford.
after Paul van Somer
oil on canvas, feigned oval, 17th century, based on a work of circa 1617
NPG 127
The 1st Earl of Monmouth and his family
attributed to Paul van Somer
oil on canvas, circa 1617
NPG 5246
Ludovick Stuart, 2nd Duke of Lennox and Duke of Richmond
by Paul van Somer
oil on canvas, circa 1620
NPG 5297
Sir Theodore Turquet de Mayerne
attributed to Paul van Somer
oil on canvas, feigned oval, 1621 or before
NPG 6538
William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke
by Simon de Passe, after Paul van Somer
line engraving, 1617
NPG D25792
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Paul van Somer
mezzotint, possibly early 18th century
NPG D25710
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
after Paul van Somer
mezzotint, possibly early 18th century
NPG D25711
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban
by George Vertue, after Paul van Somer
line engraving, 1728
NPG D16251
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban
by George Vertue, after Paul van Somer
line engraving, 1728
NPG D16252
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban
by George Vertue, after Paul van Somer
line engraving, 1728
NPG D16253
by Jacobus Houbraken, after Paul van Somer
engraving, 1730s
NPG D42872
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by George Vertue, after Paul van Somer
line engraving, published 1732
NPG D18258
King James I of England and VI of Scotland
by George Vertue, after Paul van Somer
line engraving, published 1732
NPG D18259
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban
by George Vertue, after Paul van Somer
line engraving, 1734
NPG D16249
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban
by George Vertue, after Paul van Somer
line engraving, 1734
NPG D16250
by John and Charles Esplens, after Paul van Somer
mezzotint, published 1743
NPG D2988
by John and Charles Esplens, after Paul van Somer
mezzotint, published 1743
NPG D2989
Sir Robert Bruce Cotton, 1st Bt
by George Vertue, after Paul van Somer
engraving, published 1744
NPG D19167
Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington
by Robert Dunkarton, after Paul van Somer
mezzotint, late 18th or early 19th century
NPG D34157
Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington
by Robert Dunkarton, after Paul van Somer
mezzotint, probably late 18th century
NPG D1561
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.