Oil painting -> List of Painters -> William Michael Harnett

William Michael Harnett

Early Days William Michael Harnett (August 10, 1848 – October 29, 1892) was an Irish-American painter who practiced a tromp l'oeil (literally, "fool the eye") style of realistic painting. His still lives of ordinary objects arranged on a ledge or hanging from a nail are painted in such a way that the painting can be mistaken for the objects themselves. Harnett was born in Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland during the time of the potato famine. Shortly after his birth his family immigrated to America, settling in Philadelphia.

Career

Becoming a United States citizen in 1868, he made a living as a young man by engraving designs on table silver, while also taking night classes at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and later, in New York, at Cooper Union and at the National Academy of Design. His first known oil painting, a still life, dates from 1874.

The style of trompe l'oeil painting that Harnett developed was distinctive and inspired many imitators, but it was not without precedent. A number of 17th century Dutch painters, Pieter Claesz. For an instance, he had specialized in tabletop still life of astonishing verisimilitude. Raphaelle Peale, working in Philadelphia in the early 19th century, pioneered the form in America. What sets Harnett's work apart, besides his enormous skill, is his interest in depicting objects not usually made the subject of a painting.

Harnett painted musical instruments, hanging game, and tankards, but also painted the unconventional Golden Horseshoe (1886), a single rusted horseshoe shown nailed to a board.

He painted a casual jumble of second-hand books set on top of a crate, Job Lot, Cheap (1878), as well as firearms and even paper currency. His works sold well, but they were more likely to be found hanging in a tavern or a business office than in a museum, as they did not conform to contemporary notions of high art.

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