John William Buxton Knight was an English landscape painter born in Sevenoaks, Kent, on October 3, 1843. Influenced by the natural beauty of the English countryside, he developed a passion for painting rural landscapes and became known for his naturalistic and serene depictions.
Buxton Knight was educated at the Somerset House School of Design and the Royal Academy Schools. Although he was a contemporary of the Impressionists, his style remained rooted in the more traditional and detailed approach of the British landscape painting tradition. His works often focused on the landscapes of Kent and Surrey, regions where he spent much of his life.
Throughout his career, he exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy from 1863 onwards, and his paintings were also shown at the British Institution and Suffolk Street. He was a member of several art societies, including the Royal Society of British Artists and the New Water Colour Society.
Buxton Knight's landscapes were celebrated for their meticulous detail, rich coloration, and the careful rendering of light and atmosphere. He had a particular interest in seasonal changes and the various moods of the English countryside, which is evident in his works. Despite the industrial changes happening around him, Buxton Knight's paintings often evoke a timeless, pastoral England, untouched by the rapid technological advancements of the era.
John William Buxton Knight passed away on June 11, 1908. His paintings have since been collected and appreciated by those who have a fondness for the traditional English landscape genre and are held in various collections around the world, including in the United Kingdom and the United States.