Harnett, William

Harnett, William (Michael)

(1848–92) painter; born in Clonakilty, Ireland. He came to America as a child, moved to New York (1871), was an engraver until 1874, and then devoted himself to still life painting. His realistic work, such as his After the Hunt (1885), prompted many imitators who worked in the "trompe l'oeil" tradition, a photographic-like depiction of objects.