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Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

British, 1646-1723

Sir Godfrey Kneller was a leading English Baroque portraitist whose subjects included nobility, politicians, poets, writers and other notable figures. His figurative and portrait paintings were in great demand for more than three decades around the turn of the 18th century.

Kneller was born in Lübeck, Germany, in 1646. His father was a painter and a city surveyor, positions which gave Kneller the opportunity of a university education. He studied mathematics at Leiden University in the Netherlands before shifting to painting, studying under luminaries such as Ferdinand Bol and Rembrandt.

In 1672, Kneller moved to Italy where he spent time in Rome and Venice painting portraits for the nobility. Around 1676, he moved to England, where he opened a studio. An encounter with the Duke of Monmouth led to an introduction to King Charles II, and Kneller became a court painter, garnering a reputation for his grand style. The young painter’s portraits had a penetrating quality that evoked the subject’s presence through like-like qualities on canvas.

In 1684, Kneller traveled to France to paint Louis XIV. Following the death of Charles II, he became the court painter for James II and later worked for his successors, William and Mary. Kneller was knighted in 1692 and received an honorary doctorate of law from the University of Oxford in 1695.

Between 1700 and 1720, he painted 42 portraits of members of the Kit-Cat Club, a political and literary group. Mary II also commissioned him to paint the Hampton Court Beauties, a series of paintings featuring the most graceful ladies of the royal court.

In 1711, Kneller became the governor of the London Academy and subsequently won re-election every year until 1718. King George I made him a baronet in 1715.

Kneller died in London in 1723, with hundreds of unfinished paintings remaining in the prolific portrait master's studio.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of Sir Godfrey Kneller’s paintings.

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3rd Countess of Dysart, Grace Wilbraham
3rd Countess of Dysart, Grace Wilbraham

3rd Countess of Dysart, Grace Wilbraham

By Sir Godfrey Kneller

Located in Douglas, Isle of Man

Sir Godfrey Kneller 1646-1723, was a German born British portrait painter. He was, apparently according to one of our sources, born in Leiden and studied under Bol and Rembrandt, be...

Category

Late 18th Century Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of Lady Elizabeth Cromwell as The Magdalen with a Prayer Book
Portrait of Lady Elizabeth Cromwell as The Magdalen with a Prayer Book

Portrait of Lady Elizabeth Cromwell as The Magdalen with a Prayer Book

By Sir Godfrey Kneller

Located in Taunton, GB

Portrait of Lady Elizabeth Southwell (neé Cromwell), as the Magdalene, half-length wearing a red dress with black veil, a prayer book by her side Oil on canvas, circa 1705 In a ca...

Category

Early 18th Century Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Oil

Full length portrait of Lady Elizabeth Cromwell as the Magdalen

Full length portrait of Lady Elizabeth Cromwell as the Magdalen

By Sir Godfrey Kneller

Located in Taunton, GB

Portrait of Lady Elizabeth Cromwell as the Magdalen, full length seated in a landscape wearing a red dress and blue robes Oil on canvas THE SOUTHWELL COLLECTION Everett Fine Art i...

Category

17th Century Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Oil

Portrait Prince George of Denmark, Duke of Cumberland c.1690–1695 Oil painting
Portrait Prince George of Denmark, Duke of Cumberland c.1690–1695 Oil painting

Portrait Prince George of Denmark, Duke of Cumberland c.1690–1695 Oil painting

By Sir Godfrey Kneller

Located in London, GB

Portrait of Prince George of Denmark, Duke of Cumberland (1653–1708) c.1690–1695 Studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646–1723) Few portraits embody the visual authority and dynastic sy...

Category

17th Century Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of Duke and Duchess of Devonshire Studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller
Portrait of Duke and Duchess of Devonshire Studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller

Portrait of Duke and Duchess of Devonshire Studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller

By Sir Godfrey Kneller

Located in Bradenton, FL

A Pair of Oil on Canvas Portraits of William Cavendish, First Duke of Devonshire, and his wife, Mary Butler Duchess of Devonshire, rendered in the grand manner associated with Sir Go...

Category

18th Century English Neoclassical Antique Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Giltwood, Paint

William Lord Russell
William Lord Russell

William Lord Russell

By Sir Godfrey Kneller

Located in Douglas, Isle of Man

Sir Godfrey Kneller 1646-1723, was a German born English portrait painter. He was a pupil of Bol and Rembrandt, he was born in Leiden, travelled to Rome , Venice, Hamburg and later t...

Category

Late 17th Century Baroque Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of Gentleman in Grey Coat & Periwig, Dukes of Sutherland Collection
Portrait of Gentleman in Grey Coat & Periwig, Dukes of Sutherland Collection

Portrait of Gentleman in Grey Coat & Periwig, Dukes of Sutherland Collection

By Sir Godfrey Kneller

Located in London, GB

This distinguished portrait, depicting a young member of one of Britain's most powerful landed dynasties, formed part of an important collection of pictures and family heirlooms of t...

Category

18th Century Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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Portrait in Oil of Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford by Sir Godfrey Kneller
Portrait in Oil of Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford by Sir Godfrey Kneller

Portrait in Oil of Robert Harley 1st Earl of Oxford by Sir Godfrey Kneller

By Sir Godfrey Kneller

Located in Savannah, GA

19th Century copy of 18th century portrait of Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford, (born 1661, London, died 1724, London). He was a British statesman who headed the Tory ministry from ...

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Early 18th Century English Georgian Antique Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

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Portrait of Lady Caroline Price
Portrait of Lady Caroline Price

Portrait of Lady Caroline Price

By George Romney

Located in Miami, FL

DESCRIPTION: Perhaps the best Romney in private hands. If Vogue Magazine existed in the late 18th century, this image of Lady Caroline Price would be ...

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1970s Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

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Oil, Canvas

Male and female portrait, both in silk kimono, possibly textile dealers
Male and female portrait, both in silk kimono, possibly textile dealers

Male and female portrait, both in silk kimono, possibly textile dealers

By Christoffel Lubieniecki

Located in Amsterdam, NL

CHRISTOFFEL LUBIENIECKI (1659-1729) Pair of portraits of a gentleman and a lady, both in silk kimono, before a country house (circa 1680) Indistinctly signed “C.......” on a box under the man’s left hand Oil on canvas, 79.5 x 67 cm each Both sitters are portrayed wearing a silk “Japanese” coat. During the second half of the seventeenth the Japanese silk coat, an adapted Japanese kimono, became a real vogue in the Dutch elite. The exclusive Dutch trade contacts with Japan can explain the popularity of the kimono-style silk coats in the Netherlands. Everybody who could afford one, dressed in such a fashionable and comfortable coat and, like the present sitters, some proud owners had themselves portrayed in a “Japanese” coat often together with an oriental carpet to underline their standing and international connections. These portraits are the work of the Polish-born portraitist Christoffel Lubieniecki (also known as Lubienitski, Lubinitski or Lubiniecki) Lubieniecki was first trained in Hamburg under Julian Stuhr and after 1675 in Amsterdam under Adriaen Backer and Gerard de Lairesse. He specialized in landscapes, generally of an Italianate character, and in portraits. The loving execution of these contented burghers, enjoying the garden vistas of their country house, places him alongside Amsterdam portraitists such as Constantijn Netscher and Michiel van Musscher...

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1680s Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

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French School, 17th Century, 'Portrait of the Marquise de Grugieres', oil canvas
French School, 17th Century, 'Portrait of the Marquise de Grugieres', oil canvas

French School, 17th Century, 'Portrait of the Marquise de Grugieres', oil canvas

Located in Petworth, West Sussex

French school, 17th Century Portrait of the Marquise de Grugieres Oil on canvas 26.1/4 x 21.5/8 in. (66.7 x 54.8 cm.) In a gilded composite frame, later production (possible early 1...

Category

17th Century Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Oil Portrait of a Victorian Lady, c. 1850
Oil Portrait of a Victorian Lady, c. 1850

Oil Portrait of a Victorian Lady, c. 1850, c. 1850

$1,480

H 13.75 in W 11.5 in D 1.75 in

Oil Portrait of a Victorian Lady, c. 1850

Located in Chicago, IL

Painted in the 19th century, this exquisite miniature portrait wonderfully exemplifies realism in traditional oil painting. The small artwork is painted in the conventional portraiture style of the Old Masters, and achieves soft realism with fine brushwork and a subdued, neutral palette. The half length portrait depicts a fine Victorian woman dressed in all black with a delicate lace collar and bonnet. She wears a ruby broach...

Category

Mid-19th Century Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Oil

Mid-18th-Century German School, Portrait Of An Aristocrat In Armour, Oil
Mid-18th-Century German School, Portrait Of An Aristocrat In Armour, Oil

Mid-18th-Century German School, Portrait Of An Aristocrat In Armour, Oil

Located in Cheltenham, GB

This mid-18th-century half-length German portrait depicts a middle-aged aristocrat wearing armour and a wig. Despite his heavily-clad appearance, it’s likely that this rather noncha...

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1750s Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Portrait Miniature of Sir George Douglas, Baronet by J.C.D. Engleheart, 1821
Portrait Miniature of Sir George Douglas, Baronet by J.C.D. Engleheart, 1821

Portrait Miniature of Sir George Douglas, Baronet by J.C.D. Engleheart, 1821

By John Cox Dillman Engleheart

Located in Brooklyn, NY

A very fine likeness of handsome nobleman Sir George Douglas, inscribed on the reverse "Engelheart fecit 1824 London." The painting is contained in a beautifully cast bronze doré frame with the sitter's name engraved...

Category

1820s English Regency Antique Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Bronze

18th Century portrait oil painting of a lady in an ermine trimmed cloak
18th Century portrait oil painting of a lady in an ermine trimmed cloak

18th Century portrait oil painting of a lady in an ermine trimmed cloak

By Sir Godfrey Kneller

Located in Nr Broadway, Worcestershire

Circle of Sir Godfrey Kneller Dutch, (1646-1723) Portrait of a Lady in an Ermine Trimmed Cloak Oil on canvas Image size: 26.5 inches x 22.5 inches Size including frame: 33.5 inches x 29.5 inches A well-executed half-length portrait of a lady painted in a feigned oval, circle of Sir Godfrey Kneller. The use of a feigned oval was a device used in portraiture to give a sense of depth and add an intimacy to the painting, drawing your attention to the sitter. The subject, posed without her wig in the undressed fashion of the day, wears a blue ermine trimmed blue cloak over a white silk robe...

Category

18th Century Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Two royal portraits (the Duc d'Angoulême and the Duc de Berry) by H.P. Danloux
Two royal portraits (the Duc d'Angoulême and the Duc de Berry) by H.P. Danloux

Two royal portraits (the Duc d'Angoulême and the Duc de Berry) by H.P. Danloux

Located in PARIS, FR

These two royal portraits are a major historical testimony to the stay of the Comte d'Artois (the future Charles X) and his family in Edinburgh in 1796-1797. Given by the sitters to Lord Adam Gordon, the Governor of Edinburgh, and kept by family descent to this day, these two portraits provide us with a vivid and spontaneous image of the Duc d’Angoulême and his brother the Duc de Berry. Danloux, who had emigrated to London a few years before, demonstrate his full assimilation of the art of British portrait painters in the brilliant execution of these portraits. 1. Henri-Pierre Danloux, a portraitist in the revolutionary turmoil Born in Paris in 1753, Henri-Pierre Danloux was first a pupil of the painter Nicolas-Bernard Lépicié (1735 - 1784) and then, in 1773, of Joseph-Marie Vien (1716 - 1809), whom he followed to Rome when, at the end of 1775, Vien became Director of the Académie de France. In Rome he became friends with the painter Jacques-Louis David (1748 - 1825). Returning to France around 1782, he settled in Lyon for a few years before returning to Paris in 1785. One of his first portraits was commissioned by the Baroness d'Etigny, the widow of the former Intendant of the Provinces of Gascony, Bearn and Navarre Antoine Mégret d'Etigny (1719 – 1767). He then became close to his two sons, Mégret de Sérilly and Mégret d'Etigny, who in turn became his patrons. In 1787, this close relationship with the d'Etigny family was further strengthened by his marriage to Antoinette de Saint-Redan, a relative of Madame d'Etigny. After his marriage, he left for Rome and did not return to France until 1789. It was during the winter of 1790-1791 that he painted one of his masterpieces, the portrait of Baron de Besenval. Set in a twilight atmosphere, this portrait of an aristocrat who knows that his death is imminent symbolizes the disappearance of an erudite and refined society which would be swept away by the French Revolution. The Jacobin excesses led Danloux to emigrate to England in 1792; many members of his family-in-law who remained in France were guillotined on 10 May 1794. Danloux enjoyed great success as a portrait painter in England before returning to France in 1801. During his stay in England, Danloux was deeply under the influence of English portraitists: his colors became warmer (as shown by the portrait of the Duc d'Angoulême that we are presenting), and his execution broader. 2. Description of the two portraits and biographical details of the sitters The Duc d'Angoulême (1775-1844) was the eldest son of the Comte d'Artois, the younger brother of King Louis XVI (the future King Charles X), and his wife Marie-Thérèse of Savoie. He is shown here, in the freshness of his youth, wearing the uniform of colonel-general of the "Angoulême-Dragons" regiment. He is wearing the blue cordon of the Order of the Holy Spirit, which was awarded to him in 1787, and two decorations: the Cross of Saint-Louis and the Maltese Cross, as he was also Grand Prior of the Order of Malta. Born on 16 August 1775 in Versailles, Louis-Antoine d'Artois followed his parents into emigration on 16 July 1789. In 1792, he joined the émigrés’ army led by the Prince de Condé. After his stay in Edinburgh (which will be further discussed), he went to the court of the future King Louis XVIII, who was in exile at the time, and in 1799 married his first cousin Marie-Thérèse Charlotte of France, the daughter of Louis XVI and the sole survivor of the royal family. The couple had no descendants. He became Dauphin of France in 1824, upon the accession to the throne of his father but played only a minor political role, preferring his military position as Grand Admiral. Enlisted in Spain on the side of Ferdinand VII, he returned home crowned with glory after his victory at Trocadero in 1823. He reigned for a very short time at the abdication of Charles X in 1830, before relinquishing his rights in favor of his nephew Henri d'Artois, the Duc de Bordeaux. He then followed his father into exile and died on 3 June 1844 in Gorizia (now in Italy). His younger brother, the Duc de Berry, is shown in the uniform of the noble cavalry of the émigrés’ Army. He is wearing the blue cordon of the Order of the Holy Spirit, awarded to him in May 1789, and the Cross of Saint-Louis (partly hidden by his blue cordon). Born on 24 January 1778 in Versailles, Charles-Ferdinand d'Artois also followed his parents into emigration and joined the émigrés’ army in 1792. After his stay in Edinburgh, he remained in Great Britain, where he had an affair with Amy Brown...

Category

1790s Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Wood Panel

Oil on Canvas Painting Portrait of the Italian Noble Family of Zanardi Count
Oil on Canvas Painting Portrait of the Italian Noble Family of Zanardi Count

Oil on Canvas Painting Portrait of the Italian Noble Family of Zanardi Count

By Lucia Casalini Torelli

Located in Firenze, IT

This museum quality old master oil on canvas formal portrait painting depicting the family of the Count Zanardi is signed by the artist- the female painter Lucia Casalini Torelli- and published in a book dedicated to Casalini Torelli’s workshop and academy. This palatial masterpiece artwork comes directly from the ancient Villa Maraini Guerrieri - Palidano di Gonzaga (Mantua), an historic Italian heritage building owned by the descendants of the family portrayed for more than two centuries, until 1998. The big scale of this oil on canvas masterpiece painting states the relevance of Lucia Casalini Torelli as a painter. The present artwork is a formal family portrait painting that aim to introduce the characters depicted according to their social role in the society. The noble family is all gathered under a loggia overlooking a park, the landscape in the background is partially covered by a beautiful red cloth on the right side. The father stands up and holds the hand of his eldest son, proudly introducing his future heir. The son wears a light-blue dress and red boots, he is depicted in a serious pose holding a black tricorn hat under his arm and a rapier sword on his belt. The mother wears an elegant gold and dark green brocade dress, she is sitting with her youngest daughter on her knees while her second son is by her side. The little daughter wears a lovely long red and dress with white lace and holds an apple on her hand. The son stands next to his mother and is dressed in a brown priestly clothes. This palatial old masters piece was probably painted in 1740 due to the similarities with Cardinal Doria’ s portrait, now on display at the Doria Palace Museum, the official residence of the Prince of Genoa. The painting features original canvas (“prima tela”) and antique original patina, it is in excellent overall condition considering the age, use and its large scale. A formal detailed condition report and the results of the inspection with the UV lamp accompanied by photos is available on request. As well as for its exceptional quality and quite perfect state of conservation, this painting is particularly important and even more valuable both for the artist who painted it and for its absolutely exclusive provenance. Lucia painted the most prominent and powerful noble families of her time, the location of these paintings is unknown to the art market as it is extremely likely that the portraits are still kept in private collections. Furthermore, Lucia was one of the most appreciated artists of her time, so important that she was admitted as a member of the academy at a time when women were forbidden to attend these studies. In 1706, Felice Torelli...

Category

18th Century Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of a lady with her son, studio of F.H. Drouais, Paris, French, 18th c.
Portrait of a lady with her son, studio of F.H. Drouais, Paris, French, 18th c.

Portrait of a lady with her son, studio of F.H. Drouais, Paris, French, 18th c.

By François Hubert Drouais

Located in PARIS, FR

Portrait of a lady with her son, Workshop of François Hubert Drouais (Paris 1727-1775) (no visible signature) French School, mid-18th century, circa 1760 Oil on canvas: h. 71.5 cm, w...

Category

Mid-18th Century Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

17th Century portrait oil painting of a gentleman
17th Century portrait oil painting of a gentleman

17th Century portrait oil painting of a gentleman

By John Riley

Located in Nr Broadway, Worcestershire

Circle of John Riley British, (1646-1691) Portrait of a Gentleman Oil on canvas Image size: 29 inches x 24 inches Size including frame: 36 inches x 31 inch...

Category

17th Century Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of 'Mr. Bell' Attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller, circa 1720
Portrait of 'Mr. Bell' Attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller, circa 1720

Portrait of 'Mr. Bell' Attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller, circa 1720

By Sir Godfrey Kneller

Located in Kinderhook, NY

An exquisite circa 1720 English George I period "Kit-kat" style portrait firmly attributed to royal court painter Sir Godfrey Kneller (8 August 1646 – ...

Category

Early 18th Century English Baroque Antique Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Paint

Portrait of a French noblewoman - late 17th French school, attr. to N. Fouché
Portrait of a French noblewoman - late 17th French school, attr. to N. Fouché

Portrait of a French noblewoman - late 17th French school, attr. to N. Fouché

Located in PARIS, FR

Portrait of a Lady Attributed to Nicolas Fouché (Troyes, 1653-Paris, 1733) Late 17th century French School, Paris, circa 1690-1695 not signed Oil on canvas: h. 99 cm, w. 79 cm Impo...

Category

Late 17th Century Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Rebecca at the Well, Oil on Canvas, 18th Century, Framed, Old Masters
Rebecca at the Well, Oil on Canvas, 18th Century, Framed, Old Masters

Rebecca at the Well, Oil on Canvas, 18th Century, Framed, Old Masters

Located in Fredericksburg, VA

Nicola Maria Rossi masterfully captures the biblical tale of Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well, a story from the Book of Genesis. In this scene, Abraham’s servant, Eliezer, arrives at ...

Category

18th Century Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Previously Available Items
Portrait of an Elegant Lady with Pet Dog c.1690; Studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller
Portrait of an Elegant Lady with Pet Dog c.1690; Studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller

Portrait of an Elegant Lady with Pet Dog c.1690; Studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller

By Sir Godfrey Kneller

Located in London, GB

At a glance: A grand and highly decorative late Stuart portrait, this elegant 50 x 40 inch canvas depicts a young lady seated in a wooded landscape with her pet dog resting affectio...

Category

17th Century Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of a Gentleman in a Red Coat and Periwig, c.1715-1725; Godfrey Kneller
Portrait of a Gentleman in a Red Coat and Periwig, c.1715-1725; Godfrey Kneller

Portrait of a Gentleman in a Red Coat and Periwig, c.1715-1725; Godfrey Kneller

By Sir Godfrey Kneller

Located in London, GB

Portrait of a Gentleman in a Red Coat and Periwig, c.1715-1725 Studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646–1723) This portrait of a gentleman, presented by Titan Fine Art, is a fine and wel...

Category

18th Century Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait Gentleman, William Clayton, 1st Baron Sundon, Studio of Godfrey Kneller
Portrait Gentleman, William Clayton, 1st Baron Sundon, Studio of Godfrey Kneller

Portrait Gentleman, William Clayton, 1st Baron Sundon, Studio of Godfrey Kneller

By Sir Godfrey Kneller

Located in London, GB

Portrait of a Gentleman, William Clayton, 1st Baron Sundon of Ardagh c.1695-1710 Studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723) This sumptuous portrait, presented by Titan Fine Art, was ...

Category

17th Century Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of Thomas Smith Esq, circa 1705, Excellent Quality and Provenance
Portrait of Thomas Smith Esq, circa 1705, Excellent Quality and Provenance

Portrait of Thomas Smith Esq, circa 1705, Excellent Quality and Provenance

By Sir Godfrey Kneller

Located in London, GB

Portrait of Thomas Smith Esquire c.1705 Sir Godfrey Kneller Bt. (1646-1723) Inscribed on dog collar ‘Tomas Smith’ This sumptuous large-scale portrait, with its interesting history, was painted by one of the best and most famous English portrait painters, Sir Godfrey Kneller. Kneller completed portraits of all the key figures of the time and was court painter to four sovereigns. He played a key role in the development of British art and influenced countless artists over generations. This portrait is one of his finest Augustan style portraits for which he is now best remembered and it dates from his later middle period when he produced his most distinguished paintings. The sitter is Thomas Smith Esq and inscribed on the dog collar is “Tomas Smith”. It is possible that he is a member of the large Lincolnshire Smith family which included the explorer John Smith (1580-1631) – but it is certain that he had considerable wealth as he commissioned the most fashionable artist in the country. Shown standing in a romantic landscape dressed in a tight-fitting green coat with a cloak drawn across it and a full-bottomed wig, he carries a sword and has a greyhound by his side. Just visible on the dog’s collar is an inscription: ‘Tomas Smith’. Portraits showing sitters walking through romantic landscapes had been made popular in the previous century by the great court portraitist Sir Anthony van Dyck, and Kneller would no doubt have looked to these earlier works as a template for this portrait. The sitter gazes confidently towards the viewer with a greyhound at his side. Kneller has succeeded in capturing the aristocratic confidence that many of his sitters would have wished to display. It is clear to see how Kneller uses the aristocratic gaze and excess of drapery to create portraits that personifies grandeur and extravagance. Its remarkable quality is evidenced by the fact that it was chosen to be exhibited in New York (in 1986) by the prestigious and one of the oldest commercial art galleries in the world, Colnaghi. From there, it was acquired by one of the greatest twentieth century collectors, Ray Livingstone Murphy (New York circa 1930/40). Murphy had travelled extensively throughout Europe building a collection of important books, paintings and porcelain. It is said that the breadth of his collection was only rivalled by the collection of William Beckford in the previous century. Kneller appears to have been an artist Murphy was particularly fond of as he also owned the oil sketch of William III on horseback, now located at the Het Loo Palace in Holland. The notable quality of the present portrait is further demonstrated by its inclusion in J. D. Stewart’s book “Sir Godfrey Kneller and the English Baroque Portrait” (Oxford University Press, 1983 pg. 137, n. 796). Kneller, who was German-born and Dutch trained, studied under Ferdinand Bol, and perhaps Rembrandt himself in the 1660s. He was in Rome and Venice between 1672 and 1675, settling in England in 1676 for life. He was soon employed at Court and became the most successful portraitist of the generation following Lely. He enjoyed the office of Principal Painter, at first jointly with John Riley (d.1691), from shortly after the accession of William and Mary in 1688 until his death. He was knighted in 1692 and became a baronet in 1715. His major works include a series of ten reigning European monarchs, including King Louis XIV of France; over 40 “Kit-cat portraits” of members of the Kit-Cat Club; and ten “beauties” of the court of William III. He was also head of the Kneller Academy of Painting and Drawing 1711-1716 in Great Queen Street, London. Titan Fine Art are pleased to present this striking and sumptuous portrait by the best artist of the period, and at the time he was producing his best works. Presented in a fine quality carved and gilded period frame with inscription on the bottom. Provenance: Private Collection, England Colnaghi, London Ray Livingston Murphy (1923-1953), New York (acquired from the above), and by descent to Dr James Murphy, New York Art Market, Dallas Philip Mould...

Category

Early 1700s Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of Mrs. Fisher of Packerton, Warwick in  Brown dress with Blue Shawl
Portrait of Mrs. Fisher of Packerton, Warwick in  Brown dress with Blue Shawl

Portrait of Mrs. Fisher of Packerton, Warwick in Brown dress with Blue Shawl

By Sir Godfrey Kneller

Located in Miami, FL

Three-quarter-length, in a blue dress and red shawl, a wooded landscape in the distance Provenance: Sotheby's The work is stunning and has a great elegant presence in person

Category

18th Century Old Masters Sir Godfrey Kneller Art

Materials

Oil

Sir Godfrey Kneller art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Sir Godfrey Kneller art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Sir Godfrey Kneller in oil paint, paint, canvas and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 18th century and earlier and is mostly associated with the Old Masters style. Not every interior allows for large Sir Godfrey Kneller art, so small editions measuring 11 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Studio of Sir Peter Lely, Flemish School, 17th Century, and Jan Frans van Bloemen (Orizzonte). Sir Godfrey Kneller art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $4,601 and tops out at $49,000, while the average work can sell for $17,230.

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