William Adolphus Knell (1801–1875) was a successful British maritime painter of the 19th century.

Life

William Augustus Knell -Battle of Camperdown

Knell was born in 1801 at

Carisbrooke Carisbrooke is a village on the south western outskirts of Newport, Isle of Wight and is best known as the site of Carisbrooke Castle. It also has a medieval parish church. St Mary's Church (overlooking Carisbrooke High Street with views to the ...

on the Isle of Wight. By 1825 had already exhibited his works at the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its pur ...

. He soon built up a successful practice as a painter of maritime and particularly naval subjects, exhibiting regularly at the Royal Academy,

British Institution The British Institution (in full, the British Institution for Promoting the Fine Arts in the United Kingdom; founded 1805, disbanded 1867) was a private 19th-century society in London formed to exhibit the works of living and dead artists; it w ...

and the

Society of British Artists The Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) is a British art body established in 1823 as the Society of British Artists, as an alternative to the Royal Academy. History The RBA commenced with twenty-seven members, and took until 1876 to reach fif ...

. He was particularly praised in 1847 for ''The Battle off Cape St. Vincent, 14 February 1797'', shown at Westminster Hall in 1847. It was purchased for the nation for £200 and is now part of the

Parliamentary Art Collection The Parliamentary Art Collection is a collection of around 8,500 artworks held by the United Kingdom Parliament. The works are jointly owned by the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Approximately 80% of the collection is displayed at the ...

. Reviewing Knell's ''Destruction of Toulon'', shown in the same exhibition, ''The Athenæum'' said: "It is more conspicuous in chiaroscuro treatment than most of the pictures here of its class ... a little less whiteness in the more intense portions of the fire would have given greater brilliancy. The handling is as vigorous and sketchy as the effect is powerful. Knell was twice commissioned by

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...

for paintings. 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. 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 William Calcott Knell (1830–1880) was a British painter of maritime subjects. Life He was the son of William Adolphus Knell (1801-1875), who also worked as a marine painter. The influence of his father is evident in the composition and execu ...

and Adolphus Knell also became successful painters. He died on 9 July 1875 at his home in

Kentish Town Kentish Town is an area of northwest London, England in the London Borough of Camden, immediately north of Camden Town. Less than four miles north of central London, Kentish Town has good transport connections and is situated close to the ope ...

and was buried at

Abney Park Cemetery Abney Park cemetery is one of the "Magnificent Seven" cemeteries in London, England. Abney Park in Stoke Newington in the London Borough of Hackney is a historic parkland originally laid out in the early 18th century by Lady Mary Abney, D ...

. 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. A Brixham trawler.jpg, ''A Brixham trawler'' William Adolphus Knell - Indiamen in the Thames.jpg, ''Indiamen in the Thames'' William Adolphus Knell, 1859 - Fishing Boats in a Calm.jpg, ''Fishing Boats in a Calm'' William Adolphus Knell - A fresh breeze off Portsmouth Harbour.jpg, ''A fresh breeze off Portsmouth Harbour''

Notes

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Knell, William Adolphus 1801 births 19th-century English painters English male painters 1875 deaths Burials at Abney Park Cemetery 19th-century English male artists