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.
Charles Sackville, 6th Earl of Dorset
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1697
NPG 3204
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, based on a work of 1702
NPG 3201
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
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
oil on canvas, circa 1703
On display in Room 8 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 3224
Charles Cornwallis, 4th Baron Cornwallis
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1705-1715
NPG 3200
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1705-1710
NPG 3203
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1705
NPG 3206
Algernon Capel, 2nd Earl of Essex
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, 1705
NPG 3207
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1705
NPG 3208
Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1705
NPG 3211
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1705
NPG 3229
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
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1707
NPG 3228
John Vaughan, 3rd Earl of Carbery
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1708
NPG 3196
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt, and studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1708
NPG 3232
Evelyn Pierrepont, 1st Duke of Kingston
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, 1709
NPG 3213