Louis Aston Knight, was the son of the American expatriate artist, Daniel Ridgway Knight. Born in Paris in 1873, Louis, unlike his father, had the privilege to be brought up in a home where he was surrounded by art and music. Raised and educated in Europe, Louis attended the Chigwell School in England for his Liberal Arts Education and began his artistic training, under the guidance of his father. Later he studied formally with the great French Romantic painters, Robert-Fleury and Jules Lefebvre.

In 1894 Aston Knight debuted at the Paris Salon, starting a highly acclaimed career. Among his many awards, he won a Bronze medal at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1900, an honorable mention at the Paris Salon in 1901, a gold medal in Lyon in 1903, a gold medal in Geneva and in Nantes in 1904 and Gold medals at the Paris Salon in both 1905 and 1906, earning him the title Hors concours as the first American to win two gold medals at the Salon in two consecutive years. Knight, was also made a Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1924 becoming an Officer in 1928 and eventually a Commander in 1934.

Louis Aston Knight is most famous for his French landscapes executed in and around his home in Beaumont-le-Roger. Aston looked up to Claude Monet, and visited him from time to time at his home in Giverny. He was particularly impressed with Monet's gardens, and strove to cultivate a garden as beautiful as the master's. Knight also awarded prizes each year to the neighboring peasants who kept the nicest gardens. This ensured him of good models for his cottage landscape paintings.

Gradually Aston Knight became well known in the New York art scene and traveled to the United States many times – painting scenes in New York, Florida and California. In 1911, Knoedler and Co. held an exhibition of his landscapes of the U.S.A. and France. His exhibition at the Levy Gallery in New York, in 1931 attracted much attention. In fact, "Art News" critiqued the show (26 December issue) and described his fame and plein-air approach:

A group of new landscapes by Aston Knight, the popular painter of the Normandy Riverscape, is the Holiday attraction at the Levy Gallery. Mr. Knight sticks closely to his well established formula, doubtless due to the tremendous acclaim acquired in his earlier years when Hopkinson Smith publicized him as the "painter in the high rubber boots" for Mr. Knight was not content with studying the action of the Normandy streams from the comfortable banks.... used to [put] on a pair of waist-high rubber boots and setting up his easel in mid-stream, paint the purling waters at first hand.

Aston Knight was a favorite of American Presidents in his day. In 1922, President Harding purchased Aston Knight’s painting entitled The Afterglow, to hang in the White House. Knight even held a private exhibition at the White House for President Coolidge during his Presidency.

Many of his works have had international acclaim and are housed in the art collections throughout the world, including: the Luxembourg Museum; Musee des Colonies, Paris; the Museum of Fine Arts, Toledo, Ohio and the Delgado Museum, New Orleans.
Exhibitions:

John Levy Galleries, N.Y., Nov. 24 – Dec. 6, n.d.
Knoedler & Co., N.Y., Dec 26, 1911 – Jan 6, 1912
Detroit Museum of Art, March 18 – 30, 1914
Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY, May 1918
Biltmore Salon, L.A., CA., Exhibition of Landscapes by Aston
Knight, January 26 to February 7, 1931

This essay is copyrighted by Rehs Galleries, Inc. and may not be reproduced or transmitted without written permission from Rehs Galleries, Inc.

Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Diane's Cottage in June Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Along the River, Beaumont-le-Roger Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) The Blue Cottage Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Summer Blossoms, St. Gertrude Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed St. Gertrude
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) A Beaumont-le-Roger Oil on canvas 32 x 26 inches Signed and inscribed Beaumont-le-Roger	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Cottage by the River Oil on canvas 32 x 26 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) The Risle at Le Riviere Thibouville Oil on canvas 21 3/4 x 18 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) The Old Harbor, Dordricht, Holland Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Flowers in Bloom Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) The Charentonne at Serquigny Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Cottage Garden at Martigny Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Beaumont-le-Roger	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Summer Morning Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Cottage at Launay Oil on canvas 18 x 21 1/2 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) The Little Mill Near Bec Heloin Oil on board 11 x 14 inches Signed and inscribed Bec Heloin	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) La Varenne at Martigny Oil on board 11 x 14 inches Signed
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Sunlight & Shadow Oil on canvas 26 x 60 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Cottage by the River Oil on canvas 21 x 28 inches Signed and inscribed Paris	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Les Bords de la Risle Oil on canvas 21 x 27 3/4 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Beaumontel Oil on canvas 26 x 60 inches Signed and inscribed Paris; also titled on the stretcher
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) A Cote de Riviere Oil on canvas 22 x 18 inches Signed and inscribed Paris	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Summer Garden Oil on canvas 22 x 18 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) The Walker Cake, Putney Oil on board 10 5/8 x 13 3/4 inches Signed and inscribed Putney
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Fleur au bord de la Riviere Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) A Bend in the River Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) My Mill Oil on canvas 18 x 21 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Along the Seine Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Diane's Cottage Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Summer Evening, Beaumont Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Beaumont
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Beaumont-le-Roger Oil on canvas 32 x 26 inches Signed and inscribed Paris	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Rio St. Aponal, Venice Oil on canvas 32 x 26 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Apple Blossoms Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Maisonette a Cote de Riviere Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Riverside Farm – South Kortright, N.Y. Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Summer Garden, Normandy Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Summer Afternoon, Normandy Oil on canvas 35 x 46 inches Signed and inscribed Paris	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) The Winding River Oil on canvas 35 x 45 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Cottage by the River Oil on panel 13 3/4 x 10 1/2 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Le Soir, Dordrecht Oil on canvas 11 x 18 1/4 inches Signed and inscribed Paris	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) La Vieux Lavoir, Normandy Oil on canvas 18 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Quiet Corner, a Cottage Near Dieppe Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) The Long Cottage Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Pont del Angelo, Venice Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Summer, Beaumont-le-Roger Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Old Mill in Normandy Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) The Risle Valley, Normandy Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Brittany Evening Oil on canvas on board 39 x 31 1/4 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Market Place Rouen Oil on canvas 32 x 26 inches Signed and inscribed Rouen	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Market Place, Rouen Oil on canvas 21 3/4 x 18 1/4 inches Signed and inscribed Rouen
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Honfleur, France Oil on canvas 18 1/4 x 21 3/4 inches Signed and inscribed Honfleur
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Summer Flowers Oil on panel 10 1/2 x 13 3/4 inches Signed and inscribed Paris	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Goupilliere, France Oil on board 10 1/2 x 13 3/4 inches Signed and inscribed Goupilliere
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) A Cottage at Goupillieres (Normandy) Oil on canvas 18 x 22 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) La Risle a Beaumont-le-Roger Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Garden & Meadow, Normandy, Risle Valley Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Diane's Cottage, Beaumont-le-Roger Oil on canvas 26 x 60 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Sur le Soir Oil on canvas 32 x 26 inches Signed and inscribed Paris	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Cottages Along the River Oil on canvas 32 x 25 3/4 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Risle Valley Oil on canvas 26 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Diane's Cottage Oil on panel 10 5/8 x 13 3/4 inches Signed and inscribed Paris	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Chaumiere, a bord de l'eau Oil on board 10 5/8 x 13 3/4 inches Signed and inscribed Paris; also titled on the reverse
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Diane's Cottage Oil on canvas 18 1/8 x 21 5/8 inches Signed and inscribed Beaumont-le-Roger
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) Diane's Cottage at Sunset Oil on canvas 21 7/8 x 18 3/4 inches Signed and inscribed Paris	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) A Canal in Venice Oil on canvas 21 3/4 x 18 inches Signed and inscribed Paris
Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) The End of the Village Oil on canvas 25 5/8 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris	Louis Aston Knight (1873 - 1948) A River in Normandy Oil on canvas 25 1/2 x 32 inches Signed and inscribed Paris