Sir Godfrey Kneller 1646 - 1723 Portrait of Catherine (Née Kneller) Huckle as St Agnes Circa 1676-1714

Sir Godfrey Kneller 1646 - 1723

Portrait of Catherine (née Kneller) Huckle as St Agnes circa 1676-1714

oil on canvas

76.20 x 60.96 cm.

Provenance

Private Collection Cornwall

Literature

Engraved and published by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt mezzotint, 1716

Notes

This rather touching portrait of Catherine Kneller, the artist's daughter is a rather tender portrait of his only child as St Agnes who's attribute was a young lamb. The portrait shows how the artist chose to reflect on his only daughter and some of the saints attributes are rather poigniant when one considers the circumstances of the childs birth. St Agnes was patron saint of young girls, chastity, rape survivors, and the Children of Mary Painted circa 1690-1714. Catherine was the Illegitimate daughter of Godfrey Kneller (q.v.) by Mrs. Voss (proprietress of a coffee-house in St. James's Market). However there are other accounts that Mrs. Vos is stated elsewhere to have been the wife of a quaker in Austinfriars, and to have served him as a model. She was Called Catherine, but also known as Agnes. She was painted with her mother by Kneller before 1692. Kneller educated his daughter . She later married a Mr. Huckle by whom she had son, Godfrey Huckle Kneller, Godfrey Kneller stood as godfather. The son was Kneller's ultimate heir and assumed the name. By his marriage with Mary, daughter and heiress of Luke Weeks, Huckle became possessed of property at Donhead, Wiltshire.ancestor of the present members of the Kneller family. Kneller left her his fortune with a request that her son should assume his name. Catherine's Mother Mrs Voss was Kneller's model and mistress. Catherine was to mary James Huckle , who later changed his name to Kneller in order to inherit his father in law's fortune alogside his wife the daughter of Sir Godfrey Kneller. Kneller and his wife had no children together. Most of his fortune was inherited by his grandson, Godfrey Kneller Huckle, who was the son of Agnes Huckle, Kneller's illegitimate daughter by Mrs Voss, and who took his grandfather's surname (Kneller) as a condition of his inheritance.

Sir Godfrey Kneller painted a number of portraits featuring Mrs Voss and his daughter Catherine by her, namely : Mrs Voss (d. after 1716) with her daughter Catherine, later Mrs James Huckle (c.1690-1714) National Trust Kingston Lacy, Dorset, UK St Catherine (known from Smith's mezzotint) and as St Agnes (Yale U. CBA). Catherine Voss as St Agnes (Paul mellon Collection of British Art, Yale.

St. Agnes of Rome was born in 291 AD and raised in a Christian family. Agnes was very beautiful and belonged to a wealthy family. Her hand in marriage was highly sought after, and she had many high ranking men chasing after her. However, Agnes made a promise to God never to stain her purity. Her love for the Lord was great and she hated sin even more than death! Whenever a man wished to marry Agnes, she would always say, "Jesus Christ is my only Spouse."According to legend, the young men she turned away became so angry and insulted by her devotion to God and purity that they began to submit her name to authorities as a Christian follower.In one incident, Procop, the Governor's son, became very angry when she refused him. He tried to win her for his wife with rich gifts and promises, but the beautiful young girl kept saying, "I am already promised to the Lord of the Universe. He is more splendid than the sun and the stars, and He has said He will never leave me!" In great anger, Procop accused her of being a Christian and brought her to his father, the Governor. The Governor promised Agnes wonderful gifts if she would only deny God, but Agnes refused. He tried to change her mind by putting her in chains, but her lovely face shone with joy.

Next he sent her to a place of sin, but an Angel protected her. At last, she was condemn