John Prescott Knight (1803–1881) was an English portrait painter. He was secretary of the Royal Academy from 1848 until 1873.

Biography

The son of the actor Edward Knight, he was born in

Stafford Stafford () is a market town and the county town of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It lies about north of Wolverhampton, south of Stoke-on-Trent and northwest of Birmingham. The town had a population of 70,145 in t ...

in 1803. He began his working life in the office of a West India merchant in the City of London, who went out of business soon afterwards. He then studied drawing with

Henry Sass Henry Sass (24 April 1788 – 1844) was an English artist and teacher of painting, who founded an important art school, Sass's Academy (later "Cary's Academy"), in London, to provide training for those seeking to enter the Royal Academy. Ma ...

and painting with

George Clint George Clint (12 April 1770 – 10 May 1854) was an English portrait painter and engraver, especially notable for his many theatrical subjects. Life Clint was born in Brownlow Street, Drury Lane, Covent Garden, London, the son of Michael Clint ...

before becoming a student at the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its pur ...

in 1823. In 1824 he showed portraits of his father and of

Alfred Bunn Alfred Bunn (April 8, 1796 in LondonDecember 20, 1860 in Boulogne-sur-Mer) was an English theatrical manager. He was married to Margaret Agnes (née Somerville) Bunn, a minor actress, in 1819. Biography Bunn was appointed stage manager of Drur ...

the manager of Drury Lane Theatre at the Royal Academy. He continued to paint theatrical portraits for some years although what the ''Dictionary of National Biography'' calls "pictures of a more fanciful character" came to dominate his production. In 1828 his ''

Whist Whist is a classic English trick-taking card game which was widely played in the 18th and 19th centuries. Although the rules are simple, there is scope for strategic play. History Whist is a descendant of the 16th-century game of ''trump'' ...

Party'' and ''List, ye Landsmen'' were hung at the

British Institution The British Institution (in full, the British Institution for Promoting the Fine Arts in the United Kingdom; founded 1805, disbanded 1867) was a private 19th-century society in London formed to exhibit the works of living and dead artists; it w ...

. In 1835 he appeared with ''Tam o' Shanter'' at the Royal Academy, of which he became an associate in 1836, and professor of perspective (1839–60). From around 1840 he concentrated on portraiture again, depicting both individuals, such as the

Duke of Wellington Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, (1 May 1769 – 14 September 1852) was an Anglo-Irish soldier and Tory statesman who was one of the leading military and political figures of 19th-century Britain, serving twice as prime minister of ...

for the London City Club, the Duke of Cambridge for Christ's Hospital, and Sir George Burrows for

Saint Bartholomew's Hospital St Bartholomew's Hospital, commonly known as Barts, is a teaching hospital located in the City of London. It was founded in 1123 and is currently run by Barts Health NHS Trust. History Early history Barts was founded in 1123 by Rahere (died ...

, and large groups, as in his ''Waterloo Banquet'' (1842) and ''Peninsular Heroes'' (1848). He became a full member of the Royal Academy in 1844 and served as its secretary from 1848 until 1873. He exhibited there for the last time in 1878, showing ''A Sandy Hillside''.''New International Encyclopædia'', 1905 He was an enthusiastic member of

Edward Irving Edward Irving (4 August 17927 December 1834) was a Scottish clergyman, generally regarded as the main figure behind the foundation of the Catholic Apostolic Church. Early life Edward Irving was born at Annan, Annandale the second son of Ga ...

's Catholic Apostolic church. His wife, who died before him, exhibited a few pictures of domestic subjects at the British Institution and elsewhere between 1832 and 1837. Knight died at 24 Maida Hill West, London, on 26 March 1881, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.

Notes

References

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External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Knight, John Prescott 1803 births 1881 deaths 19th-century English painters English male painters Royal Academicians People from Stafford 19th-century English male artists