Who was Sir Godfrey Kneller?
Q: Who was Sir Godfrey Kneller?
A: Sir Godfrey Kneller was a leading portrait painter in England during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He was court painter to English and British monarchs from Charles II to George I.
Q: What are some of his major works?
A: Sir Godfrey Kneller's major works include The Chinese Convert (1687); a series of four portraits of Isaac Newton; a series of ten reigning European monarchs, including King Louis XIV of France; over 40 "Kit-cat portraits" of members of the Kit-Cat Club; and ten "beauties" of the court of William III.
Q: What is the Kit-Cat Club?
A: The Kit-Cat Club was a Whig dining club that met at the Kit-Cat Club in London from the late 17th to mid-18th century. Sir Godfrey Kneller painted over 40 "Kit-cat portraits" of members of the club.
Q: What is the "beauties" series of portraits?
A: The "beauties" series of portraits is a ten portrait series of the court of William III, painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller. The purpose of this series was to match a similar series of ten beauties of the court of Charles II, which were painted by court painter before him, Sir Peter Lely.
Q: Who were some of the European monarchs painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller?
A: Sir Godfrey Kneller painted a series of ten reigning European monarchs, including King Louis XIV of France.
Q: Who preceded Sir Godfrey Kneller as the court painter to Charles II?
A: Sir Peter Lely was the court painter before Sir Godfrey Kneller during the reign of Charles II.
Q: Who were some of the people painted in the "Kit-cat portraits" by Sir Godfrey Kneller?
A: Sir Godfrey Kneller painted over 40 "Kit-cat portraits" of members of the Kit-Cat Club. These include politicians, writers, and other notable figures of his time.
