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Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Knaffl Madonna

I received a comment on my Merry Christmas post, which I used a picture of the Knaffl Madonna in, that has asked about the people in the picture. I thought that I would post a bit of information about the picture. There is a book by Betsey Beeler Creekmore called Knox County Tennessee: A History In Pictures. It has information on the Knaffl Madonna.

At the end of the nineteenth century, when "Art Photography" was all the rage, this tasteful composition by Knoxville's Joseph Knaffl received worldwide acclaim. A copy of the famous "Knaffl Madonna" is prominently displayed at Hopecote* because, before her marriage to Albert Hope, Miss Emma Fanz posed for the photograph holding baby Josephine Knaffl who, in later life, was Mrs. David Baker, Sr.
Courtesy of Sam Knaffl, Jr.

*Hopecote was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Hope. It is currently owned by the University of Tennessee and is used as a guesthouse.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

A note of interest - this just happened a short time ago at Dovecote:
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/mar/01/030108stbrfs/
Though you might be interested . . . :o)}

Anonymous said...

Correction . . . Hopecote!
Doh!
:o)}

Anonymous said...

I have that picture which is embossed with an original seal dated 1899 Knaffl and Bro. I found it in the home I was then living in which was built in 1812. The words Madonna and child are painted on the bottom. The paper is fragile on the edges but in excellent shape.

Anonymous said...

here is a ebay auction for one

http://cgi.ebay.com/1899-Antique-Knaffl-Bros-Madonna-Child-Print-Lithograph-/140411175248?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Art_Prints&hash=item20b1288150

Anonymous said...

I have a similiar photo but its a watercolor painting not a picture. embossed stamped 1912. Im trying to find what its worth

LKellsAntiques said...

I just got an art photo of Madonna & Child, old $3

Anonymous said...

Pick one up at a tag sale $4 Thirteen years ago.