Lot 811: George Knapton (1698-1778) Portrait of Mrs Knight,

George Knapton (1698-1778) Portrait of Mrs Knight, standing, three quarter length, holding a basket containing birds Inscribed Mrs Knight, oil on canvas, 95cm by 71.5cm George Knapton, the son of a City Merchant, spent seven years as apprentice to Jonathan Richardson the elder and attended the St Martin's Lane Academy. He was a founder-member of the Roman Club and following a tour of Italy founded the Society of Dilettanti becoming their official portrait painter in 1740. A well recorded portrait by Knapton depicts Robert Knight, Baron Luxborough (painted c.1748/9 which sold at Christie's 11 Dec 2009 Lot 146). In June 1750 Robert Knight's son, the Hon Henry Knight married Frances Heath, daughter of Thomas Heath, MP for Harwich. It is possible this is a portrait commissioned by the Baron of his new daughter-in-law, Frances Knight remarried in 1763 following Henry Knight's death, this time to Henry Scott, 4th Earl of Deloraine.