Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
(1646-1723), Portrait painterSitter associated with 30 portraits
Artist associated with 1689 portraits
German-born but Dutch trained, Kneller reportedly travelled to England in 1676 because of his 'longing to see Sir Anthony Van Dyck's Works, being most ambitious of imitating that great Master'. He went on to dominate English art for more than thirty years. Like Van Dyck and Lely before him, Kneller became Principal Painter to the king and was knighted. William III also gave him a gold medal and chain, similar to those given to Van Dyck by Charles I. In recognition of his talents, in 1715, George I created Kneller a baronet - a rank that was not surpassed by any artist until 1896 when Sir Frederic Leighton received a peerage.
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, feigned oval, 1677
NPG 2963
studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, based on a work of circa 1677
NPG 5226
James Scott, Duke of Monmouth and Buccleuch
studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, feigned oval, based on a work of circa 1678
NPG 5225
Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, based on a work of 1680?
NPG 1430
Unknown man, formerly known as William Russell, Lord Russell
possibly after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, feigned oval, based on a work of circa 1680
NPG 202
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, 1684
NPG 666
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
watercolour on vellum on card, based on a work of 1684
NPG 6277
John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, based on a work of circa 1685-1686
NPG 1779
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, feigned oval, 1685
NPG 3794
Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, 1685
On display at Gawthorpe Hall, Burnley
NPG 4033
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, 1689
NPG 1280
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1690
NPG 1616
studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, based on a work of circa 1690-1695
On display at Bath Preservation Trust, Bath
NPG 752
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, 1690
NPG 2124
Algernon Capel, 2nd Earl of Essex
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1690-1695
NPG 143
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, based on a work of circa 1690
NPG 2925
Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1690-1695
NPG 800
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, feigned oval, based on a work of circa 1690
NPG 265
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1690
NPG 553
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.