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.
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...
Giltwood, Paint
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...
Canvas, Oil
$27,224
Portrait of James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde (1665-1745), three-quarter length
By Sir Godfrey Kneller
Located in Taunton, GB
Portrait of James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde (1665-1745), three-quarter length, standing wearing Armour, holding his baton, a skirmish beyond Oil on canvas In a carved wood frame ...
Oil
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...
Canvas, Oil
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...
Oil
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...
Oil
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...
Canvas, Oil
$18,000
H 68 in W 56 in
Fireflies II - contemporary, figurative, portrait, oil on canvas
By Daniel Hughes
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This realistic oil portrait of a young man is by Daniel Hughes. In a field surrounded by the magical glow of dozens of fireflies, a young man stands alone, looking towards hills in ...
Canvas, Oil
$2,160
H 39.38 in W 31.5 in
Portrait of a Woman, Oil on Canvas, French School, Signed, 1889
Located in PARIS, FR
Conditions: Excellent overall conditions. Signed upper right and dated 1889. Oil on original canvas and frame. Painter and Teacher at the Academy des Beaux-Arts of Brussels. Complem...
Oil
$1,401
H 16.15 in W 13.19 in D 0.04 in
A Young Oriental Woman Looking at the Mirror-Oil on Canvas - 19th Century
Located in Roma, IT
A young woman is an original modern artwork realized in Late 19th Century. Mixed colored oil on canvas. The artwork depicts a young woman with veil and mirror. Unreadible signatur...
Canvas, Oil
$50,000
H 40 in W 30 in D 0.75 in
"Naiad" - Textured Colorful Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Portrait Artwork
By Masri Hayssam
Located in Carmel, CA
Masri Hayssam (Lebanese, born 1965) "Naiad" 2023 Oil Paint, Acrylic Paint, Mixed Media, Canvas, Stretcher Bars "Naiad" is a stunning abstract portrait by Masri, celebrated for its v...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Stretcher Bars
$20,418
H 28.75 in W 23.5 in D 1 in
Old Master portrait of a lady musician by the master or portraiture
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
Attributed to Pierre Paul Prud’hon (French, 1758-1823) 'La belle musicienne' Oil on canvas, oval Signed ‘P. P. Prudon’ (lower left) 28.3/4 x 23.1/2 in. (73 x 59.5 cm.) Pierre Paul Prud'hon is considered a prime example of early French Romanticism. He was born as the seventh and last child of a master tailor. At the age of 16 he was a pupil of the painter and sculptor Francois Devosge. After finishing his studies he moved to Paris, where he first worked for an engraver and became friends with the Baron of Joursanvault, who became his patron. He also made a friendship with the "incorruptible", the politician and revolutionary Maximilien de Robespierre. Despite important friendships and the care of some cardinals, Prud'hon plunges into loneliness and melancholy. He has a good reputation and produces allegorical paintings, but his attachment to Robespierre forces him to leave the French capital. He now lives in the Free County of Burgundy, where he makes portraits and illustrations for Pierre Didot, the owner of the printing house. After a few years he moved back to Paris and his career received a new impetus. In the Louvre, Prud'hon is provided with a studio in which he paints "La sagesse et la vérité descendant sur la terre" (Wisdom and Truth descend to earth) for one year, as well as some ceilings of the Louvre. The government assigns him a studio in the Sorbonne, where his wife Jeanne, whom he married at the age of 19, comes looking for him. To escape her, he asks the museum director for protection. In 1808 he wrote "La justice et la vengeance divine poursuivant le crime" (Justice and divine revenge pursue the crime). In the same year he is also named Knight of the Legion of Honour and is able to break with his grumpy wife once and for all. He soon reconnects with his student and painter of neoclassicism Constance Mayer. Pierre is commissioned to paint a portrait of the Empress and wife of Napoleon, Joséphine de Beauharnais, which can still be seen today in the Louvre. He also paints the small "Roi de Rome" (King of Rome). In 1816 the Academy of Fine Arts elected him a member, where he took over the armchair in the painting section of François-André Vincent. A few years later his depressed wife commits suicide, and full of pain Prud'hon finishes her last work "Une famille malheureuse" (Engl. An Unhappy Family) and exhibits it. He himself dies soon afterwards and is buried in Paris. Many renowned artists admire Prud'hon for his "clair-obscur", the chiaroscuro painting...
Canvas, Oil
$169,339
H 94.49 in W 85.44 in D 1.19 in
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...
Canvas, Oil
Leighton Studios Maesteg Watercolour Portrait of Racing Pigeon
Located in Nottingham, GB
An original framed watercolour and bodycolour portrait of the racing pigeon Alene, painted by Leighton Studios of Maesteg, South Wales, in November 1955. Executed with remarkable at...
Paint
$2,500
H 6 in W 4.25 in D 0.5 in
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...
Bronze
$8,500Sale Price|33% Off
H 56 in W 46.75 in D 2 in
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 ...
Giltwood, Paint
$3,800
H 25 in W 21 in D 1 in
After the Game (Figurative Painting, Two Men in Athletic Uniforms by Mark Beard)
By Mark Beard
Located in Hudson, NY
Academic style figurative portrait painting of a handsome young men "After the Game", By Mark Beard as Bruce Sargeant (pseudonym in homage to the fashion photographer, Bruce Weber, a...
Canvas, Oil
$21,605
H 31.89 in W 25.6 in D 0.4 in
18th century French Old Master Portrait of a woman in oriental costume
Located in Aartselaar, BE
French 18th century old master portrait of a majestic lady dressed "à la Turque" The sitter at the viewer with a kind and enigmatic smile and twinkling eyes. She looks elegant and kind, yet also has an intelligent and determined aura, reflecting the character of someone who is in charge of her own life and destiny. De Silvestre paid great attention to her spectacular outfit, which is striking in its portrayal of the sumptuous fabrics and their decorative richness. She is wearing a luxurious royal blue robe à la...
Canvas, Oil
$5,812Sale Price|37% Off
H 39.57 in W 32.88 in
Dutch-Flemish Baroque old master - Late 17th century nobleman portrait oil
Located in Varmo, IT
European master (17th–18th century) - Portrait of a Nobleman. 81 x 65 cm (without frame) - 100.5 x 83.5 cm (with frame). Oil on canvas, in a carved and gilded wooden frame (not sig...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 37.01 in W 32.68 in D 2.37 in
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 ...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 57.49 in W 48.43 in D 2.37 in
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...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 57 in W 47 in D 4 in
Portrait of Isabella Marshall - Very Large 18th Century Georgian Oil Painting
By Sir Godfrey Kneller
Located in Gerrards Cross, GB
‘Portrait of Isabella Marshall’ by Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723). This large fine early 18th century oil painting of a Georgian beauty is signed an...
Oil
Sold
H 50 in W 41 in
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
Oil