life and works. born in ireland moved to philadelphia as a child with family studied art at the...

LIFE AND WORKS

Born In IrelandMoved to Philadelphia as a child with familyStudied Art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts & later at the National Academy of Design & Cooper Union at New York.Initially, he made his living making engravings on fine silver.He was a STILL LIFE PAINTER He used TROMPE L’OEIL as his painting technique.He was an amateur musician and played flute.He used several musical instruments and everyday items as props in his paintings.He knew how to read music and the music in his paintings can actually be played.He was extremely meticulous and detailed, with a keen sense of design and clarity of vision.Winslow Homer & La Farge were Harnett’s American contemporaries.

WILLIAM MICHAEL HARNETT1848-1892

TROMPE L’OEIL (tromp’ lowee)

Trompe L’oeil (tromp’ low-ee) is French for “fool of the eye.A trompe-l’oeil painting looks so realistic that it appears as though real objects are on the surface of the canvas or any background medium.This technique was used in still life paintings as early as 16th century.This was popular with the public, but the art critics had mixed reactions to it.Mainstream art critics hated this work as mereimitation, just a trick.Therefore, painters often displayed their works in saloons, department stores and trade shows.

Trompe L’oeil of a French Courtyard

Julian Beever – Chalk on Pavement - TokyoA sculptural mosaic in the form of a carpet thrown over marble steps -2003

Fresco with Trompe l'oeil Andrea Pozzo - 1703Escaping Criticism, 1874,

Pere Borrell del Caso, oil on canvas

Trompe l'oeilWorks

Around The World

Let’s try some Line & Space Worksheets

&Perception exercises

to understand Trompe L’oeil

MY GEMS1888

Harnett created this painting just 4 years before he died.Props that he used for this painting are items that were very dear to his heart.Music is from Verdi’s RigolettoBooks are from Shakespeare, Hamlet, Troilus and Cressida.This is an oil painting on wood.It is hanging in the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.

Still life violin and music - 1888 After the Hunt - 1883

Memento Mori -To This Favour

OTHER NOTABLE WORKSOF HARNETT

Just Dessert, 1891 – Oil on Canvas

William Harnett @ Art Institute of Chicago

For Sunday's Dinner, 1888 – Oil on canvas

http://www.museumsyndicate.com/artist.php?artist=210

FUN HARNETT PUZZLES

Click the above link to direct you to the various works of Harnett

http://www.museumsyndicate.com/jigsaw/jigsaw.php?id=23096

Click the above link to direct you to “Attention Company” jigsaw puzzle.

http://www.museumsyndicate.com/jigsaw/jigsaw.php?id=23119

Click the above link to direct you to “Still Life: Violin and Music” jigsaw puzzle.

Still Life: Violin and Music

ATTENTION COMPANY

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! HAVE FUN MAKING GREAT WORKS OF ART.