SAMUEL COOPER (1609--1672) was a miniature painter of a high order, whose art attested the influence of Van Dyck; the Duke of Buccleuch has the two famous unfinished portraits of the Protector by him, and a galaxy of other works of this class. Pepys, speaking of a portrait-painter named JOHN HAYLS, of whom he thought highly, said: "He has also persuaded me to have Cooper draw my wife's picture, which though it cost over L30, yet I will have it done." He called Cooper "a limner in little," and referred to him several times in his Diary. On the death of Sir Peter Lely, another foreigner became the popular painter of the Court. This was-- Sir GODFREY KNELLER (1648--1723), a native of Luebeck, who came to the Court of Charles II. in 1674, and maintaining his popularity during the reign of James II., William III., and Anne, lived to paint the portrait of _George I._ Kneller's works are chiefly portraits. Of these the famous Kit-Kat series of likenesses of distinguished men is invaluable. His portrait of his fellow-countryman, _Grinling Gibbons_, is one of his best paintings. He was the fashionable painter of the age, and kings and fine ladies, wits and statesmen, are embodied in his art. Dryden was amongst his sitters, and the poet has left the following praises of the painter:-- "Such are thy pictures, Kneller! such thy skill, That nature seems obedient to thy will; Comes out and meets thy pencil in the draught, Lives there, and wants but words to speak the thought." [Illustration: GRINLING GIBBONS, THE SCULPTOR. _By_ GODFREY KNELLER.]