He is renowned for accompanying Goethe in his Italian Journey to Naples, Paestum and Sicily, executing several drawings whilst there.

Initially, he worked as a portrait artist, then in 1781 he traveled to Italy, where he painted primarily vistas and landscapes.

He met Goethe in Naples, being introduced to him by a mutual friend, the artist Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein.

After separating from Goethe on his return from Sicily, Kniep remained in Naples, where he died in 1825.

[1] Kniep's drawings of Paestum and Pompeii are of extraordinary detail, and have also been used as archaeological documents.