DANIEL RIDGWAY KNIGHT (AMERICAN, 1839-1924)

Ridgway Knight, as an academically trained artist, would have produced many preparatory drawings prior to advancing further on a design. He was also known to have purchased clothing from nearby villagers to dress his models with, in order to make them appear as authentic as possible. He had a genuine relationship with the neighbouring peasants and picked his models from amongst them. As George Sheldon explains: 'throughout Normandy, he (was) a familiar figure in the field and in the cottage. A hundred times he has been called upon to act as godfather to the children of his models and, whenever one of them gets married, she (was) sure to receive from Mr. Knight a handsome present in gold. His habit in this regard (was) well known among them'. (G. Sheldon, Recent Ideals of American Art, New York and London, 1888, p. 27).

We are grateful to Howard L. Rehs & Professor Janet Whitmore for confirming the authenticity of this work from a photograph. A certificate of authentication from Howard L. Rehs, SF1008, accompanies this lot.