Godfrey Kneller

Godfrey Kneller
Godfrey Kneller
	Sir Godfrey Kneller - Self portrait
Born	Gottfried Kniller; 8 August 1646; Lübeck, Holy Roman Empire
Died	19 October 1723 (aged 77); London, Great Britain
Nationality	German
Occupation	Painter
Known for	Leading portrait painter of England

Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1st Baronet (8 August 1646 – 19 October 1723) was the leading portrait painter in England during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He was court painter to English and British monarchs from Charles II to George I.[1]

His major works include The Chinese Convert (1687); a series of four portraits of Isaac Newton; 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. The beauties series was to match a similar series of ten beauties of the court of Charles II. The earlier portraits were painted by court painter before him, Sir Peter Lely.

Selected works

Isaac Newton (1689)
Portrait of John Locke
Portrait of King William III of England
Sketch of Louis XIV

References

Stewart, J. Douglas (2004). "Kneller, Sir Godfrey , baronet (1646–1723)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/15710. Retrieved 2012-05-23. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

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[1] Stewart, J. Douglas (2004). "Kneller, Sir Godfrey , baronet (1646–1723)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/15710. Retrieved 2012-05-23. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)