William Adolphus Knell
William Adolphus Knell (1801–1875) was a successful British maritime painter of the 19th century.
Life
Knell was born in 1801 at
Knell was twice commissioned by Queen Victoria for paintings.[citation needed] His picture The Arrival of Prince Albert, 6 February 1840 was bought by the prince himself and remains in the Royal Collection. It shows the packet steamer Ariel, on board which Albert came to Britain for his wedding, approaching the crowded quay at Dover in a storm.[4]
The returns of the 1861 Census record the family as living in St Pancras, London. William Adolphus, then aged 58 was married to Susan; his son William Calcott, aged 32 (b.c. 1829), was married to Maria and another son, Adolphus (b.c. 1849) was aged 12. Both William Calcott Knell and Adolphus Knell also became successful painters.
He died on 9 July 1875 at his home in Kentish Town and was buried at Abney Park Cemetery.[5]
Both WA Knell and Adolphus painted a significant number of small picture of boats at dusk and in the moonlight. Many of these smaller pictures are on panel rather than on canvas which has the advantage that the harder surface allows for higher detail.
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A Brixham trawler
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Indiamen in the Thames
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Fishing Boats in a Calm
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A fresh breeze off Portsmouth Harbour
Notes
- ^ "William Adolphus Knell (Biographical details)". British Museum. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ^ "Artwork no title [ Battle off Cape Vincent 1797 ]". Parliamentary Art Collection. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^ "Fine Arts: The Westminster Hall Exhibition". The Athenæum (1027): 765. 17 July 1847.
- ^ "The Arrival of Prince Albert, 6 February 1840". Royal Collection. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.(subscription or UK public library membershiprequired)
External links
- 43 artworks by or after William Adolphus Knell at the Art UK site
- Media related to William Adolphus Knell at Wikimedia Commons