A Courtly Presence: The Life and Art of Paulus van Somer Paulus van Somer, a name perhaps less immediately recognizable than his Flemish contemporaries like Anthony van Dyck or Peter Paul Rubens, nevertheless occupies a crucial position in the history of portraiture. Born in Antwerp around 1577, at a time when the Southern Netherlands were undergoing profound political and religious upheaval, Van Somer’s artistic journey led him to England, where he became a favored painter among the Stuart court during the reign of James I. His story is one of quiet mastery, skillful adaptation, and an abil…