The Parting Blessing, 1841

John Prescott Knight RA (1803 - 1881)

RA Collection: Art

John Prescott Knight is best known as a portrait painter, initially studying at the Royal Academy Schools from 1823. His decision to concentrate on the potentially more lucrative genre of portraiture may well have been due to lack of financial support after the death of his father. He was deeply involved in the institution of the Royal Academy, serving as Professor of Perspective (1839–1860), and Secretary of the Royal Academy (1847–1873).

Knight’s painting deals with the painful subject of the break up of families in the 19th Century, either because of emigration, or because of the need of sons to join one of the armed services in order to seek their fortune. With its rich brown tones this painting recalls the work of David Wilkie, RA (1785–1841).