William Michael Harnett
(1848 - 1892)
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William Michael Harnett
is often called the leading American still-life painter of the late 1800's. Harnett was best known for his meticulously rendered trompe l'oleil paintings. His style was hard and precise. It was well suited to such subjects as groups of objects on tabletops.
Harnett was born in Ireland. He was brought to Philadelphia while still a baby. He studied painting at the National Academy of Design in New York City. His artistic career began as an engraver of steel, copper, wood, and later silver. In the early 1870s he was employed at Wood & Hughes and Tiffany & Company in New York. His sketchbook from this period reveals his propensity for precision in his sketches of decorative patterns for silver flatware. In 1875, he began painting still lifes. By 1880, he saved enough money to travel to Europe. While spending much time in Munich, he received much praise for his realistic style. Illness struck at the height of his career and prevented him from doing much painting after 1886. Sadly, his work was largely forgotten until 1935. |
William Michael Harnett graphics project - BERKELEY WEBS
Objects - US Postal Stamps, sketches, oil paintings
© 1998 Berkeley Webs
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