William Harnett was born in Clonakilty, Ireland in 1848, but his family relocated to Philadelphia when William was an infant. Harnett’s work was likely inspired by Raphael Peale, the Philadelphian still life painter of the early 19th century. Harnett likely painted over 500 trompe l’oeil still lifes that inspired the likes of illusionist artists John Haberle and John Peto, as well as Modernist artists Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. Although critically unpopular during his life and largely overlooked for half a century after his death, Harnett’s reputation rebounded around 1940 and continues to escalate. There are many forgeries of Harnett’s paintings, evidencing the inherent value of his work. His most well-known paintings include After the Hunt (de Young Museum) and The Old Violin (National Gallery of Art).

The Ireland-born painter was originally trained as a silverware engraver and continued to work in this industry, while he attended school. Harnett enrolled at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, before taking classes at Cooper Union and the National Academy of Design until 1874. After school, Harnett concentrated solely on painting still lifes, which were small and cluttered early on. From 1880 to 1885, Harnett studied at the Munich Academy, and travelled to Paris, Frankfurt, and London displaying his hanging-game still lifes, the subject with which he became branded. He moved back to New York in 1886, but he suffered from serious illness. The mark that Harnett made on illusionistic painting is extraordinary considering his short eighteen year career.