H. (Hermann) Knackfuss

Born in 1848 in Wissen, Hermann Knackfuss was a German painter, illustrator, academy teacher, and writer on art. He studied at the Düsseldorf Academy and became known for historical paintings and portraits, while also building a substantial career as an art author.

For readers, Knackfuss is especially notable for his many books on artists and art history. He wrote volumes on figures such as Raphael and Rubens and helped present European art in a form that was meant to be approachable rather than strictly academic, which helped his work travel widely beyond specialist circles.

He died in Kassel in 1915. Today, his name is remembered both for his paintings and for the role his writing played in bringing art history to general readers.