Godfrey KnellerEnglish, 1646–1723Drawing
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Not receiving at present
Victoria and Albert Museum
London, United Kingdom
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- 9 days ago
- In this state since
- Sep 25, 2026
- Source
- The museum's own collection data
About the work
The German-born Godfrey Kneller was one of the most successful portraitists of his era. His first act on receiving a commission was to make a full-scale drawing of the sitter’s face from the life. This study is an example of this working process – not a work of art in its own right, but an energetic sketch on cheap, rough paper for Kneller’s own reference.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Particulars
- Accession number
- DYCE.379
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Victoria and Albert Museum: the museum's own open data · fetched 9 days ago
- Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Meanwhile, in the life of Godfrey Kneller
The whole life1711–1716
Kneller's Academy of Painting and Drawing
He founds the Academy of Painting and Drawing on Great Queen Street in London and heads it until 1716; it is described as the first art school in Britain, and its founding directors included James Thornhill, James Gibbs and Thomas Gibson.
1713
Churchwarden at Twickenham
When the 14th-century nave of St Mary's Church collapsed in 1713, Kneller was its churchwarden and took an active part in the plans for rebuilding the church by John James.
24 May 1715
Created a baronet
King George I creates him a hereditary baronet, “of Whitton in the County of Middlesex”.
