![A still life painting of objects on top of a large green cloth that is draped over a piece of brown wooden furniture. The objects in this still life include books, sheet music, a flute, a quill and inkpot, a small blue vase, and an oil lamp. There is a dark wooden cabinet door and a dark brown wall in the background.](https://learn.ncartmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HARNETT-Still-Life-2019_20-520x365.jpg)
William Michael Harnett (artist)
About
William Michael Harnett was born in Ireland in 1848. He emigrated to America with his family as a child. He was best known for painting groups of objects in dark tones and with precise detail. Most of his paintings include objects related to writing, reading, drinking, smoking, hunting and/or music. Harnett’s realistic style is an example of trompe l’oeil painting. Trompe l’oeil means “trick the eye” in French. Trompe l’oeil paintings create the illusion of real objects. Music was a theme in Harnett’s work. Many of his paintings include sheet music and instruments.
From Wikipedia
source contentArtwork by William Michael Harnett
![A still life painting of objects on top of a large green cloth that is draped over a piece of brown wooden furniture. The objects in this still life include books, sheet music, a flute, a quill and inkpot, a small blue vase, and an oil lamp. There is a dark wooden cabinet door and a dark brown wall in the background.](https://learn.ncartmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/HARNETT-Still-Life-2019_20-520x365.jpg)