John Blanke (fl. 1501-1511), African musician from the 16th Century Westminster Tournament Roll, painting on vellum by the workshop of Sir Thomas Wriothesley, 1511
John Blanke was an African musician from the early Tudor era who most likely arrived in England in 1501 as one of Catherine of Aragon's attendants. He is among the first Black people to be documented in the post-Roman era in what is now the United Kingdom. The Westminster Tournament Roll from 1511 is a painted roll of thirty-six vellum membranes that have been stitched together. It is 143 inches wide and about 60 feet long. In February 1511, Henry VIII organised a joust to commemorate the birth of his son, Henry, Duke of Cornwall, to Catherine of Aragon on New Year's Day. The Roll depicts this event. John Blanke can be seen in the second group of trumpeters to the right, wearing a turban.
Size: 9621px × 3476px
Photo credit: © ICP / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1500s, 1510s, 1511, 16th, africa, african, archive, art, artwork, blak, blancke, blanke, century, fine, historical, history, john, musician, painting, paintings, roll, tournament, trumpeter, tudor, vellum, westminster
