Knötel was born in Glogau in 1857. His father, August Knötel, was an art teacher and gave him lessons in drawing and painting from an early age. In this time, Knötel developed an interest in military fashion and history. By late adolescence, he was already employed as an illustrator for the graphics-based newspaper; Illustrierte Zeitung, as well as for postcards and magazines. In 1880, with an established reputation, Knötel was entered into the Berlin Academy of Fine Arts.
After his studies, he began collecting books concerning European military history (it is believed that by his death he owned over 9000 titles). As well as an illustrator, Knötel was a talented painter, who was renowned throughout Germany for his military subjects. He died in Berlin in 1914, and is buried in Saint Matthew’s Cemetery in the city.
-33%
Richard Knötel’s ARMIES OF EUROPE ILLUSTRATED (1890)
£9.99
Classic descriptions complete with colour plates and vignettes by the renowned military artist and pioneer of the study of military uniform Richard Knötel, covering the armies of, THE BRITISH EMPIRE – THE GERMAN ARMY – AUSTRIA-HUNGARY – ITALY – FRANCE – RUSSIA – DENMARK SWEDEN AND NORWAY – SPAIN AND PORTUGAL – SWITZERLAND – HOLLAND AND BELGIUM – TURKEY AND THE STATES OF THE BALKAN PENINSULA.
Knötel is still the most widely referenced artist in the study of military attire of the early modern era, and is still much in use as a prime reference source today.