Godfrey Kneller

English painter
British (English), (1646–1723)
Kneller was the leading portrait painter in England during the late 17th to early 18th centuries, documenting court society for almost 40 years. He popularized the kit-cat format for portraits and was also the founding governor in 1711 of the first proper academy of art in England. Among his best works are 42 portraits of members of the famous literary association called the Kit-Cat Club, which are now in the National Portrait Gallery, London. These were painted between about 1700 and about 1720 and are of a size (36 x 28 inches) that allows a half-length portrait showing one or both hands; 'kitcat size' is now a generic term.