Sir Godfrey Kneller , 1st Baronet ( born Gottfried Kniller ; 8 August 1646 -- 19 October 1723 ) was the leading portrait painter in England during the late 17th and early 18th centuries , and was court painter to English and British monarchs from Charles II to George I. His major works include `` The Chinese Convert '' ( 1687 ; Royal Collection , London ) ; a series of four portraits of Isaac Newton painted at various junctures of the latter 's life ; a series of ten reigning European monarchs , including King Louis XIV of France ; over 40 `` Kit-cat portraits '' of members of the Kit-Cat Club ; and ten `` beauties '' of the court of William III , to match a similar series of ten beauties of the court of Charles II painted by his predecessor as court painter , Sir Peter Lely .
Sir Godfrey Kneller , 1st Baronet ( 8 August 1646 -- 19 October 1723 ) was the leading portrait painter in England during the late 17th and early 18th centuries . He was court painter to English and British monarchs from Charles II to George I. His major works include `` The Chinese Convert '' ( 1687 ) ; a series of four portraits of Isaac Newton ; a series of ten reigning European monarchs , including King Louis XIV of France ; over 40 `` Kit-cat portraits '' of members of the Kit-Cat Club ; and ten `` beauties '' of the court of William III .