Description:
Black and white photograph of Richard Payne Knight, drawn by W Evans and engraved by E Scriven. Richard was born at Wormsley Grange 11th February, 1751, a frail child and home educated, excelling at Greek. in 1773 he started designing Downton Castle on his Bringewood estate, which was to become his lifes work. He was a landscape theorist and was called upon to enhance the picturesque qualities of several estates. He became the MP for Leominster in 1780 and represented Ludlow as MP from 1784 - 1806. He died in London in 1824 and was buried at St Mary's, Wormsley. He bequeathed his collections of bronzes, gems, coins and drawings to the British Museum, of which he was a Trustee.
