19C Women in Gardens - France

Daniel Ridgway Knight (American painter) 1839 - 1924  Coffee in the Garden, Paris

Biography of Daniel Ridgway Knight (1839-1924)

Daniel Ridgway Knight, born on March 15, 1839, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.  Knight initially trained at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts before moving to Paris to study under 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.