John Prescott Knight

A carte-de-visite portrait of the British artist John Prescott Knight (1803-1881).

Born at Stafford, he was the son of the actor Edward Knight. After studying privately, he entered the Royal Academy as a student in 1823, and exhibited two portraits there the following year. In 1828 his Whist Party and List, ye Landsmen were hung at the British Institution. In 1835 he showed Tam o' Shanter at the Royal Academy; he became an associate in 1836, and was later professor of perspective (1839–60).

He also painted portraits in large groups, such as the Waterloo Banquet (1842) and Peninsular Heroes (1848), as well as single portraits of the Duke of Wellington for the London City Club, the Duke of Cambridge for Christ's Hospital, and Sir George Burrows for Saint Bartholomew's Hospital. He was secretary of the Royal Academy (1848–73), and exhibited there for the last time in 1878.

Photographed by Leonida Caldesi of London.