Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1St Baronet

Place: Lübeck

Born: 1646

Death: 1723

Biography:

, a prominent painter from Germany, was born on August 8, 1646, in the Free City of Lübeck. He is best known for his exceptional skill in capturing the essence of his subjects, particularly in portrait painting. Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1st Baronet served as court painter to successive English and British monarchs, including Charles II of England and George I of Great Britain.

Early Life and Training

Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1st Baronet was the son of Zacharias Kniller, a portrait painter. He studied in Leiden and later became a pupil of Ferdinand Bol and Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn in Amsterdam. His travels with his brother John Zacharias Kneller took him to Rome and Venice, where he painted historical subjects and portraits in the studio of Carlo Maratti.

Career as a Painter

In England, Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1st Baronet concentrated almost entirely on portraiture. He established himself as a leading portrait artist and was introduced to Charles II, for whom he painted a portrait. When Sir Peter Lely died in 1680, Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1st Baronet was jointly appointed Principal Painter in Ordinary with John Riley to the Crown by Charles II. Notable Works Some of his notable works include:

• Portrait of a lady with daughter, which is currently housed at Böttcherstraße Museums in Bremen, Germany.
• Charles II, a masterpiece of Baroque art, showcasing the artist's exceptional skill in capturing the essence of his subjects.
• Portrait of Marcello Durazzo, a stunning oil on canvas painting created by Anthony Van Dyck.

Legacy and Personal Life

Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1st Baronet was created a baronet by King George I in 1715. He married Susanna Grave, the daughter of Reverend John Cawley, and had no children. Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1st Baronet died on October 19, 1723, and his remains were interred at Twickenham. Important Links For more information about Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1st Baronet, visit https://Wikioo.org/@/Sir-Godfrey-Kneller-1St-Baronet. You can also find his biography on Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godfrey_Kneller. To explore more of his paintings, check out the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum and Swale House on https://Wikioo.org.