Early Eighteenth Century Portrait Oil Painting of Sir Godfrey Kneller

A fine early eighteenth-century oil on canvas portrait of the artist Sir Godfrey Kneller. The work is extremely well done with a huge amount of detail. The sitter is shown half-length dressed in robes with an extensive powdered wig. The portrait is typical of the period with the figure framed in a painted trompe l’oeil stone oval, the name of the sitter is written on this oval: ‘Godfrey Kneller Bart’. Sir Godfrey Kneller was made a Baronet in 1715 and died in 1723 so the work dates to this time period. The painting is in good country house condition, it does have a craquelure, and minor areas of touching in. The work was lined most likely in the nineteenth century when the corners were repaired. The frame is a more twentieth century but very much in the correct period and of very good quality. Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723) was a German-born but Dutch trained artist, 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. The portrait here is not signed, perhaps it is a self-portrait, or it is suggested it could be by Kneller’s contemporary Michael Dahl (1659-1743). It is a great portrait full of period appeal and English Country House style. C1720.

Overall sizes in inches including frame: 28 ½ by 35

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