Stephen Slaughter (1697 – 1765): The Painter of Dignified Portraits Stephen Slaughter was a prominent English portrait painter who flourished during the mid-18th century, leaving an indelible mark on British art history. Born in London around 1697, his artistic journey began under the tutelage of Godfrey Kneller, arguably the most celebrated portraitist of his time, establishing a foundational influence that would permeate his subsequent oeuvre. This formative relationship instilled in Slaughter a meticulous attention to detail and a mastery of classical techniques—characteristics that would…