Richard Payne Knight of Downton Castle in Herefordshire, and of 5 Soho Square, London, England, was a classical scholar, connoisseur, archaeologist and numismatist best known for his theories of picturesque beauty and for his interest in ancient phallic imagery. He served as a Member of Parliament for Leominster (1780–84) and for Ludlow (1784–1806).
Bust of Payne Knight (1812) by John Bacon the Younger in the British Museum
Four figures from Discourse on the worship of Priapus and its connection with the mystic theology of the ancients as republished by George Witt in 1865
An Account of the Remains of the Worship of Priapus (1786).
The Society of Dilettanti is a British society of noblemen and scholars that sponsored the study of ancient Greek and Roman art, and the creation of new work in the style.
The Dilettanti Society, after Joshua Reynolds. On the left of the composition is (1) Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, (2) Mr. John Taylor, (3) Mr. Stephen Payne-Gallwey, (4) Sir William Hamilton, (5) Mr. Richard Thompson, (6) Mr. Spencer Stanhope, and (7) Mr. John Lewin Smyth of Heath
The Dilettanti Society, after Joshua Reynolds. On the left of the composition is (1) Constantine, second Lord Mulgrave; (2) Henry Dundas, afterwards Lord Dundas; (3) the Earl of Seaforth; (4) the Hon. Charles Greville; (5) Mr. John Charles Crowe; (6) Mr. Banks afterwards Sir Joseph Banks; and (7) Lord Carmarthen, afterwards fifth Duke of Leeds; he has a long stick in his left hand
Bourchier Wray by George Knapton
Sir Joseph Banks, painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds, the mezzotint was by William Dickinson (1746–1823).