Harold KnightPortrait of a young woman in blue dress
- Painting
- Oil on canvas
- 60 x 50 cms (23.62 x 19.68 ins)
- Ref: 581149
HAROLD KNIGHT (1874-1961)
Harold Knight was born in Nottingham in 1874. He was
enrolled at the Nottingham School of Art and Design at the
Age of 14 possibly encouraged by his father, the Architect,
William Knight.
During his time there he was considered best in college
producing sensitive portraits, strong nude portraiture and detailed
interiors. Knight continued his studies later in Paris
at Academie Julian and on his return to England he married
his college sweetheart and artistic soulmate, Laura Johnson
(later to become Dame Laura Knight); sealing an important
life- long partnership.
In 1907 the couple moved from Nottingham and Staithes to Newlyn,
following their love of genre and portraiture. They were an
attractive addition to the art colony grown around Newlyn,
Mousehole and Lamorna and although they put their their art first,
Harold and Laura Knight loved entertaining at their home in
Lamorna, welcoming neighbours from all walks of life.
Moving later to London,Harold regularly exhibited at The Royal
Academy and became an RA in 1937. His finely worked pictures were
always thoughtful as,it seems, was his role as husband to Dame Laura.
His paintings are now being reappraised.
He died at the age of 87 in 1961.