Sir Godfrey Kneller (August 8,1646 -October 19, 1723) was an artist, court painter to several British monarchs.
Kneller was born Gottfried Kniller in Lübeck, Germany. His brother, John Zacharias, was also a painter and also settled in Britain. A student of Ferdinand Bol and Rembrandt, Kneller became the leading portrait painter in England during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and painted ten reigning European monarchs during his career, including King Louis XIV of France. In 1680 he was appointed Principal Painter to the Crown by King Charles II of England, and was later knighted by William III. He produced a series of portraits of 48 leading politicians and men of letters, members of the Kit-Cat Club. Created a baronet by King George I, he was also head of the Kneller Academy of Painting and Drawing 1711-1716 in Great Queen Street, London. He died of fever in 1723 and his remains were interred in Twickenham Church.
See also: English school of painting
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