William Adolphus Knell

[2] Reviewing Knell's Destruction of Toulon, shown in the same exhibition, The Athenæum said: "It is more conspicuous in chiaroscuro treatment than most of the pictures here of its class ... a little less whiteness in the more intense portions of the fire would have given greater brilliancy.

It shows the packet steamer Ariel, on board which Albert came to Britain for his wedding, approaching the crowded quay at Dover in a storm.

He died on 9 July 1875 at his home in Kentish Town and was buried at Abney Park Cemetery.

[5] Both WA Knell and Adolphus painted a significant number of small picture of boats at dusk and in the moonlight.

Many of these smaller pictures are on panel rather than on canvas which has the advantage that the harder surface allows for higher detail.