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
$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
$18,000 / set
H 54 in W 90 in D 2 in
Monumental Winifred Godfrey Triptych Paintings Oil on Canvas -Set of 3
By Winifred Godfrey
Located in Miami, FL
Monumental Winifred Godfrey Triptych Paintings Oil on Canvas Offered for sale is a monumental and striking flamingo triptych oil painting group b...
Canvas, Paint
$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
Portraits of a Jockeys and Racehorse
Located in Lantau, HK
Clarence Hailey Newmarket (British born 1867-1949) famous for his painting of stallions and jockeys Portraits of a jockey and racehorse Newmarket, Su...
Canvas
Early 19th Century Portraits of a Man and Woman
Located in Palm Beach, FL
A pair early 19th century French oil on canvas paintings of a man and woman, probably husband and wife. Neoclassical and Napoleonic in style, these paintings are very well executed a...
Paint
Portraits of a Jockey and Racehorse
Located in Lantau, HK
Clarence Hailey Newmarket (British born 1867-1949) famous for his painting of stallions and jockeys Portraits of a jockey and racehorse Newmarket, S...
Canvas
$11,029
H 36.82 in W 31.5 in D 3.94 in
Attributed to the Studio of Sir Joshua Reynolds, PRA, FRS, FRSA
Located in Reepham, GB
Attributed to the Studio of Sir Joshua Reynolds, PRA, FRS, FRSA (British, 1723-1792)Portrait of Sir Abraham Hume, 2nd Bt (1749-1838) half length, wearing a red coat oil on canvas 68 ...
Giltwood, Paint
$2,800
H 17 in W 14.25 in D 1.5 in
Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington German School Portrait Painting
Located in Savannah, GA
A small German school oil on canvas portrait of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, circa 1815, in a later black and gilt frame. Depicts the sitter bust-length in scarlet milit...
Canvas, Wood
Painting of Eos after Sir Edward Landseer
Located in London, GB
This lovely reproduction of Eos is after the original painting by Sir Edward Landseer, and is unsigned. The painting is very well executed and the arti...
Canvas
$1,850
H 37 in W 32 in D 2 in
Antique Oval Portrait of Sir Alexander Gibson, Oil on Canvas, Framed in Wood
Located in San Francisco, CA
Vintage oval portrait in a beautiful gilded wood frame of Sir Alexander Gibson, Lord Durie I of Scotland. He lived circa 1570–1644, and was aScottish judge and legal author, known to...
Canvas, Wood
Clovis II by Richard Godfrey
Located in Pasadena, CA
Clovis II, abstract painting on canvas by Richard Godfrey, 2005. Signed by artist on the back. Richard Godfrey is a Los Angeles-based artist.
Wood
$10,202
H 39.38 in W 32.68 in D 1.97 in
Portrait of Françoise-Marie d'Orléans, Duchess of Orleans, 18th Century
By Central School of Arts & Crafts
Located in Madrid, ES
Portrait of Françoise-Marie d'Orléans, Duchess of Orleans, 18th-century French school Oil on canvas depicting Françoise-Marie d'Orléans (1677–1749), the legitimized daughter of King...
Paint