diff --git a/gpt4all-bindings/python/gpt4all/gpt4all.py b/gpt4all-bindings/python/gpt4all/gpt4all.py
index c863817dfb07..8f230d5ec14b 100644
--- a/gpt4all-bindings/python/gpt4all/gpt4all.py
+++ b/gpt4all-bindings/python/gpt4all/gpt4all.py
@@ -176,6 +176,8 @@ def __init__(
         n_ctx: int = 2048,
         ngl: int = 100,
         verbose: bool = False,
+        proxies=None,
+        verify_ssl: bool = True
     ):
         """
         Constructor
@@ -201,11 +203,17 @@ def __init__(
             n_ctx: Maximum size of context window
             ngl: Number of GPU layers to use (Vulkan)
             verbose: If True, print debug messages.
+            proxies: A dictionary of proxies to be used for remote calls.
+            verify_ssl:  If true, verify SSL certificates.  Defaults to true.  Note it is generally not recommended to skip SSL verification.
         """
 
+        if proxies is None:
+            proxies = {}
         self.model_type = model_type
         self._history: list[MessageType] | None = None
         self._current_prompt_template: str = "{0}"
+        self._proxies = proxies
+        self._verify_ssl = verify_ssl
 
         device_init = None
         if sys.platform == "darwin":
@@ -267,14 +275,24 @@ def current_chat_session(self) -> list[MessageType] | None:
         return None if self._history is None else list(self._history)
 
     @staticmethod
-    def list_models() -> list[ConfigType]:
+    def list_models(
+            proxies=None,
+            verify_ssl: bool = True
+    ) -> list[ConfigType]:
         """
         Fetch model list from https://gpt4all.io/models/models3.json.
 
+        Args:
+            proxies: A dictionary of proxies to be used for remote calls.
+            verify_ssl: If true, verify SSL certificates.  Defaults to true.
+
         Returns:
             Model list in JSON format.
         """
-        resp = requests.get("https://gpt4all.io/models/models3.json")
+        if proxies is None:
+            proxies = {}
+
+        resp = requests.get("https://gpt4all.io/models/models3.json", proxies=proxies, verify=verify_ssl)
         if resp.status_code != 200:
             raise ValueError(f'Request failed: HTTP {resp.status_code} {resp.reason}')
         return resp.json()
@@ -286,6 +304,8 @@ def retrieve_model(
         model_path: str | os.PathLike[str] | None = None,
         allow_download: bool = True,
         verbose: bool = False,
+        proxies: dict = None,
+        verify_ssl: bool = True,
     ) -> ConfigType:
         """
         Find model file, and if it doesn't exist, download the model.
@@ -296,17 +316,21 @@ def retrieve_model(
                 ~/.cache/gpt4all/.
             allow_download: Allow API to download model from gpt4all.io. Default is True.
             verbose: If True (default), print debug messages.
+            proxies: A dictionary of proxies to be used for remote calls.
+            verify_ssl: If true, verify SSL certificates.  Defaults to true.
 
         Returns:
             Model config.
         """
 
         model_filename = append_extension_if_missing(model_name)
+        if proxies is None:
+            proxies = {}
 
         # get the config for the model
         config: ConfigType = {}
         if allow_download:
-            available_models = cls.list_models()
+            available_models = cls.list_models(proxies=proxies, verify_ssl=verify_ssl)
 
             for m in available_models:
                 if model_filename == m["filename"]:
@@ -354,6 +378,8 @@ def download_model(
         url: str | None = None,
         expected_size: int | None = None,
         expected_md5: str | None = None,
+        proxies=None,
+        verify_ssl: bool = True
     ) -> str | os.PathLike[str]:
         """
         Download model from gpt4all.io.
@@ -365,7 +391,8 @@ def download_model(
             url: the models remote url (e.g. may be hosted on HF)
             expected_size: The expected size of the download.
             expected_md5: The expected MD5 hash of the download.
-
+            proxies: A dictionary of proxies to be used for remote calls.
+            verify_ssl: If true, verify SSL certificates.  Defaults to true.
         Returns:
             Model file destination.
         """
@@ -373,6 +400,8 @@ def download_model(
         # Download model
         if url is None:
             url = f"https://gpt4all.io/models/gguf/{model_filename}"
+        if proxies is None:
+            proxies = {}
 
         def make_request(offset=None):
             headers = {}
@@ -380,7 +409,7 @@ def make_request(offset=None):
                 print(f"\nDownload interrupted, resuming from byte position {offset}", file=sys.stderr)
                 headers['Range'] = f'bytes={offset}-'  # resume incomplete response
                 headers["Accept-Encoding"] = "identity"  # Content-Encoding changes meaning of ranges
-            response = requests.get(url, stream=True, headers=headers)
+            response = requests.get(url, stream=True, headers=headers, proxies=proxies, verify=verify_ssl)
             if response.status_code not in (200, 206):
                 raise ValueError(f'Request failed: HTTP {response.status_code} {response.reason}')
             if offset and (response.status_code != 206 or str(offset) not in response.headers.get('Content-Range', '')):