Richard Payne Knight
(1751-1824), Art collector and writerRegency Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 6 portraits
A collector and arbiter of taste, Knight was known for his antiquarian interests and writings on aesthetics. He gained notoriety with his Discourse on the Worship of Priapus (1786) which, as it discussed sexual symbolism in ancient societies, was attacked as immoral. He also wrote on architecture and garden design; his didactic poem The Landscape (1794) contributed to the debate on the merits of the Picturesque. In 1805, Knight was among the founders of the British Institution to promote history painting. He bequeathed his collection of coins, gems, drawings and sculptures to the British Museum.
by Anton Hickel
oil on canvas, 1793-1795
NPG 745
by John Bacon the Younger
marble and bronze bust, 1814
NPG 4887
by James Bromley, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
mezzotint, (1805)
NPG D37103
by James Bromley, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
mezzotint, (1805)
NPG D37104
by James Bromley, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
mezzotint, (1805)
NPG D18967
by Edward Scriven, published by T. Cadell & W. Davies, after William Evans, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
stipple engraving, published 30 May 1811 (1805)
NPG D37105
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.