Illustration Friday - Wise

Meet the Royal Wise Guy
Jesters were more than just acrobatic comedians. Theirs was a complicated job. Yes, they were there to amuse the king and the crowds but they were also liaisons.
The jester's roll in the royal court was to act out on the foolish actions of royalty without coming across as defiant. Their humor was laced with sarcasm and satire. No one else dared speak out against the kings decisions. But if it was just the fool being a goof, that wasn't really ridicule. It was a way of communicating the concerns of the general population to the king without coming right out and saying "the taxes are to high" or "this war is stupid".
The jester also had to instill fear in the general public - "you can't touch me, I have the kings ear." It couldn't all be the mocking of the king or that would get tired in a hurry. Everyone was a potential target for the jesters wit.
Medium: coloured pencil
Original Art © RhinoInk Illustrations Ltd