I imagined John Blanke as both self-assured and soulful. Creating a tribute drawing to John Blanke was both a revelation and revisitation. I had included an interpretation of the black trumpeter
in my one of my paintings for the Tower of London - of the Westminster Tournament - in 2000; without knowing his identity - but noticing him. 
Commissioned to focus on him 15 years later, following a great lecture on black Tudor history by Michael Ohajuru & Dr Miranda Kaufmann, through which I learnt his name and lead me to look closer at the original manuscript image

Stephen B Whatley
Artist