George Knapton (1698-1778)
Provenance
Christie's, London, 13 February 1981, lot 35, as "attributed to George Knapton'
With Thomas Agnews & Sons, London
Christie's London, 4 August 1972, lot 159 as 'Knapton'
With B. Cohen & Sons, London
Literature
Ellis Waterhouse, The Dictionary of 18th Century British Painters, 1981
Portrait of Katherine Miller as a young girl, three-quarter length in a feigned oval, wearing a gold coloured fitted silk gown, holding her pet spaniel who has his eye on a biscuit she is holding. Oil on canvas in a period giltwood frame, c. 1725. The artist has skillfully captured the wonderful sense of anticipation in the dog's expression as he eagerly awaits his treat.
George Knapton (1698-1778) was an English portrait painter in oils and pastels. He was born in London and was apprenticed to Jonathan Richardson from 1715-22. He was a foundation member and official painter to the Dilettanti Society and painted twenty-three portraits of its members between 1741-49. He resigned as painter to the Society in 1763, and seemed to have given up painting c.1755. Knapton painted many portraits of children and similar examples in style and composition to the portrait here are those of William Napier, sold by Christie's in November 1991 and of Lady Louisa Conolly at Castletown House.