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Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
Daniel Ridgeway Knight (1839-1924) was an American born painter known for his detailed & deeply romanticized depictions of simple rural life, particularly focusing on the exhausting daily activities of women gardening for a living..
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Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
Knight studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts & later moved to Paris to further his studies at the École des Beaux-Arts. He was influenced by the Barbizon school & later became associated with the Academic style.
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Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
The Barbizon School was a pivotal movement in 19C art, emphasizing realistic depictions of nature & rural life, & playing a crucial role in the evolution of landscape painting.
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Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
The Barbizon School emerged in France between 1830 & 1870. It is named after the village of Barbizon, near the Forest of Fontainebleau, where many of the artists associated with the movement gathered & worked.
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The Barbizon artists were inspired by 17C Dutch landscape painters, such as Jacob van Ruisdael (1629 – 1682) & Meindert Hobbema (1638 – 1709), who also focused on naturalistic representations of rural scenes.
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Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
Artists adopting the Barbizon School movement like Daniel Ridgeway Knight reacted against the formalism & artificiality of academic art that dominated the French art scene at the time.
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Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
Artists of the Barbizon School included Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (1796-1875): Known for his poetic & atmospheric landscapes.
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Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
Another Barbizon artist was Théodore Rousseau (1812-1867): One of the leaders of the movement, noted for his detailed & textured depictions of trees & forests.
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Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
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Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
A similar Barbizon artist was Jean-François Millet (1814-1875): Famous for his scenes of peasant life, emphasizing the dignity of labor.
Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
These artists sought to break away from the rigid conventions of the Academy & find inspiration directly in nature. Their work laid the groundwork for later movements, such as Impressionism, which further explored the effects of light & atmosphere & continued the tradition of painting en plein air.
Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
One of the hallmarks of the Barbizon School was painting en plein air (outdoors). This approach allowed artists to observe & render the ever-changing changing effects of light & atmosphere directly from nature.
Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
After 1872, he lived in France, having a house & studio on the Seine. Knight lived in the village of Rolleboise, France, surrounded by the very scenes he painted.
Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
Knight was surrounded by the beauty of the French countryside & sought to celebrate the simplicity & tranquility of rural life. His paintings of women gardening seem to be homage to the pastoral lifestyle & the hard work of rural women.
Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
Like many artists of his time, Knight idealized the peasant class, portraying them in a romantic & often nostalgic light. His paintings reflect a sense of purity & virtue associated with rural living. Knight’s paintings provide a window into the daily lives of rural women in 19C France, showcasing their work in gardens & fields. This focus on everyday common labor highlights the importance & dignity of the women's roles in agricultural society.
Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
Many artists of the Barbizon School were inerested in capturing the natural environment as it appeared, without idealization or romantic embellishment. Knight's work seems both idealized & romantic much of the time.
Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
His works reflect the 19C trend of romanticizing the countryside, presenting an idealized version of the rural life of women gardening that contrasts with the growing industrialization & urbanization of the period.
Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
Knight's meticulous attention to detail & his ability to capture light & texture invite viewers to appreciate the beauty in ordinary scenes & tasks.
Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
Knight’s paintings emphasize themes of simplicity, harmony with nature, & a nobility of rural existence.
Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
Knight's paintings are celebrated for their beauty & the serene, picturesque qualities they impart to everyday rural scenes. They continue to be appreciated for their technical skill, emotional depth, & the unique glimpse they offer of the period.
Gardening Detail by Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924
Biography of Daniel Ridgway Knight (1839-1924)
Daniel Ridgway Knight, was born on March 15, 1839, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Knight initially the acclaimed artists Charles Gleyre & Jean-Léon Gérôme. His artistic style evolved into a blending academic precision with a naturalistic approach.
Knight settled in France, where he developed his signature style of depicting everyday scenes of rural life. He often painted en plein air, capturing the beauty of the French countryside with meticulous attention to light, color, & detail. His compositions typically featured peasant women engaged in simple, tranquil activities, exuding a sense of serenity & harmony with nature. Knight’s work resonated with both American & European audiences, earning him numerous accolades, including medals at the Paris Salon & the Exposition Universelle.
Knight passed away on March 9, 1924, in Paris. His work remains celebrated for its technical skill, attention to detail, & ability to capture the quiet beauty of rural existence.
Bibliography
Books:
Adams, Patricia. Daniel Ridgway Knight: American Artist in France. Somogy Art Publishing, 2009.
Falk, Peter Hastings. Who Was Who in American Art: 1564-1975. Sound View Press, 1999.
Rehs, Howard L. The Life & Art of Daniel Ridgway Knight. Rehs Galleries, 2004.
Articles:
Barr, Stephanie. "Daniel Ridgway Knight & the Cult of the Peasant in French Art." The Journal of American Art, vol. 18, no. 2, 2007, pp. 54-67.
Cox, Jay. "American Expatriates & the French Rural Ideal: The Art of Daniel Ridgway Knight." American Art Review, vol. 21, no. 4, 2009, pp. 112-123.
Weinberg, H. Barbara. "Rural Genre Painting & American Expatriates: Daniel Ridgway Knight’s Vision of France." American Art Journal, vol. 40, no. 3, 2012, pp. 88-101.
Zygmont, Bryan J. "The Artistic Legacy of Daniel Ridgway Knight: America’s Painter of Rural Life." American Fine Art Magazine, vol. 16, no. 5, 2018, pp. 72-83.
