writers. See Spooner's Dictionary of Painters, Engravers, Sculptors, and Architects.
SIR GODFREY KNELLER.
Soon after Kneller's arrival in England, he painted
the portrait of the Duke of Monmouth, who was
so much pleased with it that he persuaded the king,
his father (Charles II.) to have his portrait painted
by the new artist. The King had promised the
Duke of York his portrait, to be painted by Sir Peter
Lely, and unwilling to go through the ceremony
of a double sitting, he proposed that both artists
should paint him at the same time. Lely, as
the king's painter, took the light and station he
liked; but Kneller took the next best he could find,
and went to work with so much expedition, that he
had nearly finished his portrait, when Lely had only
laid in his dead coloring. This novelty pleased,
and Lely himself had the candor to acknowledge
his merit. Kneller immediately found himself in
the possession of great reputation and abundant employment,
and the immense number of portraits he
executed, proves the stability of his reputation. He
was equally patronized by Kings Charles, James, and
William, and he had the honor of painting ten sovereigns.
His best friend was King William, for
whom he painted the beauties of Hampton Court,
and by whom he was knighted in 1692, and presented
with a gold chain and medal, worth £300. In
the latter part of this reign, he painted the portraits
