Oil painting of a jester

Very decorative small painting of a french stage actor or jester, who is wearing a hat in the style of napoleon and playing cards on his knees. The painting is signed with a fleur-de-lis in one corner, that has appeared on countless european coats of arms and flags over the centuries, it is particularly associated with the french monarchy in a historical context. A jester or fool was historically an entertainer during the medieval and renaissance eras who was a member of the household of a nobleman or a monarch employed to entertain him and his guests. Jesters in medieval times are often thought to have worn brightly coloured clothes and eccentric hats in a motley pattern. Jesters entertained with a wide variety of skills: principal among them were song, music, and storytelling, but many also employed acrobatics, juggling, telling jokes, and magic tricks.