Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723) portrait painter: self portrait

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

Godfrey Kneller was born in Lübeck, Germany. He moved to Amsterdam in 1662 to study painting under Rembrandt and Ferdinand Bol. He later trained with Gianlorenzo Bernini and Carlo Maratta in Rome. He returned to Lübeck in 1675, before moving to Hamburg and then to London to study the works of van Dyck. In England he received commissions from prominent figures, including Charles II. Charles sent Kneller to France in 1684, to paint the portrait of Louis XIV. Kneller maintained his position at court after the accession of James II in 1685 and, when William and Mary came to the throne, he and portraitist John Riley became joint Principal Painters to the Crown. Following Riley’s death, Kneller alone retained the position. He was 77 when he died.

People

Sir Godfrey, Baronet Kneller (1646 - 1723)

Places

Subjects

painter, artist (as Subject), male portrait, self-portrait, 17th century costume

Materials & Techniques

mezzotint

Artist

Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646 - 1723)
Isaac Beckett (1653 - 1688)

Title

Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723) portrait painter: self portrait

Date

published 1685

Medium

Mezzotint

Dimensions

height: 36.80 cm, width: 27.70 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Grosvenor Prints, May 2002

Provenance

With Grosvenor Prints, London; from whom purchased by the Government Art Collection in May 2002

GAC number

17703