Sold at Auction: William Harnett

William Michael Harnett's paintings invoke the technique of trompe-l'oeil, which uses a forced perspective and artistry to create the illusion of an almost 3D picture. Harnett was born in 1848 in Ireland, and his family emigrated to America when he was an infant. He studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and then New York's National Academy of Design. Once he turned to oil painting in the 1870s, William Harnett's artwork for sale raised enough money for him to travel to Europe.

Artist William Harnett's work is distinct and instantly recognizable, and he was one of the most influential still life painters of the 19th century. William Michael Harnett's paintings include After the Hunt and The Old Violin, both of which show his brilliant technique at its best. Find other absorbing still life paintings for sale online at Invaluable.