Artist
Born in East Lothian, United Kingdom
Early Life and Education
Dame Laura Knight (1877-1970) was born Laura Johnson on August 4, 1877, in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, England, the youngest of three daughters.
Her father, Charles Johnson, abandoned the family shortly after her birth, leaving her mother, Charlotte Johnson, to raise them amidst financial hardship.
Knight's grandfather owned a lace-making factory that went bankrupt due to technological advancements, impacting the family’s stability.
In 1889, she was sent to northern France with relatives involved in the lace-making business but had to return after their bankruptcy.
She began her art education as an 'artisan student' at Nottingham School of Art at just 13 years old, thanks to her mother’s efforts.
At fifteen, Knight took over her mother's teaching duties when Charlotte became seriously ill with cancer.
She won a scholarship and the gold medal in a national student competition held by the South Kensington Museum.
Early Career & The Newlyn School
In 1894, Knight visited Staithes, a fishing village on the Yorkshire coast, which profoundly influenced her early work. She depicted the lives and hardships of local villagers in muted tones.
She married Harold Knight, also an artist, in 1903. They shared a strong artistic partnership throughout their lives.
The couple moved to Cornwall in 1907, settling in Lamorna and becoming central figures in the Newlyn School of artists alongside Lamorna Birch and Alfred Munnings.
At Newlyn, Knight developed her skills in figure painting, often using local children as models.
Her early works from this period reflect a realist tradition with an interest in depicting working-class life.
Impressionism & Recognition
The Knights’ travels to the Netherlands (1904, 1905, and 1906) exposed them to the Hague School of artists, influencing Knight's style towards a more impressionistic approach.
Her painting "Beach" exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1909 marked a shift toward brighter colors and looser brushwork.
Knight became known for her plein-air compositions featuring women in outdoor settings, sometimes using nude models, which garnered both acclaim and local controversy.
Works like “Daughters of the Sun” (1911), though initially well-received, were later damaged and destroyed.
War Artist & Later Achievements
During World War II, Knight served as an official war artist, documenting significant events including the Coventry Blitz and the Nuremberg Trials (1946). She was the only British artist commissioned to cover the trials.
In 1929, she was created a Dame, a significant achievement for a woman in the male-dominated art world of the time.
She became the first woman elected to full membership of the Royal Academy in 1936.
A large retrospective exhibition at the Royal Academy in 1965 marked her long and successful career, being the first for a woman.
Style & Legacy
Dame Laura Knight’s artistic style evolved from realism to embrace elements of Impressionism.
She was known for her ability to capture movement and atmosphere, particularly in depictions of theatre, ballet, and circus performers.
Her work often focused on marginalized communities, including gypsies and circus folk, bringing attention to their lives and experiences.
Knight’s success paved the way for greater recognition and status for women artists within the British art establishment.
She left behind a vast body of work encompassing oils, watercolors, etchings, engravings, and drypoints, solidifying her place as one of Britain's most celebrated artists.
