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The Kit-cat Club portraits: paintings by Sir Godfrey Kneller, circa 1697-1721


43 Portraits in set

These portraits are of a group of influential men pledged to uphold the 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688 and the Protestant succession. Founded by Somers, the Lord Chancellor and the publisher Tonson, the club began meeting in Christopher Cat's tavern near Temple Bar, and took its name from his mutton pies known as Kit-cats. Members included Whig MPs and landowners as well as writers. The artist, Kneller, adopted a standard 'kit-cat' format of 36 x 28 inches instead of the standard 30 x 25 inches for the portraits. In the 1730s they hung in a special room which Tonson junior had built at his house at Barn Elms.

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Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG 3210

Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton

by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1703
On display in Room 8 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 3210

Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond and Lennox, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG 3221

Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond and Lennox

by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1703
On display in Room 8 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 3221

Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG 3224

Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset

by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1703
On display in Room 8 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 3224

Sir John Vanbrugh, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG 3231

Sir John Vanbrugh

by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1705
On display in Room 8 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 3231

Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG 3214

Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt

by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1706-1711
On display in Room 8 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 3214

Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG 3218

Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun

by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, 1707
On display in Room 8 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 3218

William Walsh, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt, and  studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG 3232

William Walsh

by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt, and studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1708
NPG 3232

William Congreve, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt - NPG 3199

William Congreve

by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, 1709
On display in Room 8 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 3199