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Historical Artist - William Harnett (1848 - 1892)
American painter, William Michael Harnett was born in Ireland but raised in Philadelphia. In
1869, he moved to New York and remained there for most of his later life except for a six-year
stay in Europe from 1880 to 1886. His preferred still life subjects were firearms and musical
instruments. Initially his work was popular with the general audience but dismissed by critics.
However, in 1940, he was recognized for his strong compositions. His still lifes 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 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.
Contemporary American Artists
Art Galleries in United States of America
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