Sir Godfrey Kneller ( 1646 - 1723)

Born Gottfried Kniller in Lübeck in 1646, the son of a surveyor who originally intended to go into a commercial career but instead pursued painting. He trained in the Netherlands where he learned the methods of Dutch portraiture. He later travelled to Italy, working in Rome and Venice before relocating to England in the mid-1670s.

Soon after his arrival in London, Kneller established himself as a portrait painter among aristocratic patrons. He came to the attention of the court of Charles II, and following the death of Sir Peter Lely in 1680, he assumed the role of leading court painter. He was subsequently appointed Principal Painter to the Crown and worked under successive monarchs, including James II, William III, and Queen Anne.

Kneller operated a large studio to meet the demand for portraits, producing images of members of the royal family, aristocracy, and political figures. His practice involved the use of standardised poses and the assistance of studio apprentices. Among his known works is a series of portraits of members of the Kit-Cat Club, a group of political and literary figures active in the late c.17 the and early c.18th.

He was knighted in 1692 and created a baronet in 1715. Kneller maintained a residence and studio at Whitton, near London, where he continued working until his death in 1723.