WATTS INDEXThe canonical database of visual culture

Artists›William Michael Harnett

William Michael Harnett

1848

WA-00114131

Painting

Representation

None documented

Institutional Exhibitions

Works in Collection

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Publications Referenced

60%

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Authority Records (1)

Smithsonian

Field Verification (3 fields)

1 cross-verified · 2 single-source

Birth yearArtsy· 85%✓
LocationArtsy· 85%
NationalityArtsy· 85%

Source Registry (1)

Smithsonianhttps://www.si.edu/object/saam_2019.31
Tier 1 · Institutional90%

About

Why this artist matters now

William Michael Harnett was an American painter known for his trompe-l'œil still lifes of ordinary objects.

Source: Smithsonian Institution · Trust score: 90% · Updated 1mo ago

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6 in graph

Canonical record

Artworks (8)

Just Dessert

1891 · Oil on canvas

56.6 × 68 cm (22 1/4 × 26 3/4 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

For Sunday's Dinner

1888 · Oil on canvas

94.3 × 53.6 cm (37 1/8 × 21 1/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

The Old Violin

1887 · Color lithograph on paper

88 × 58.5 cm (34 11/16 × 23 1/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Memento Mori, "To This Favour"

1879 · oil on canvas

Framed: 77.9 x 98.4 x 8.6 cm (30 11/16 x 38 3/4 x 3 3/8 in.); Unframed: 61.3 x 81.5 cm (24 1/8 x 32 1/16 in.)

Cleveland Museum of Art

Thieves in the Pantry

1868 · Graphite on tan wove paper

13.2 × 9.8 cm (5 1/4 × 3 7/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Sketch of Two Books

1868 · Graphite, with smudging on tan wove paper

6.6 × 14.1 cm (2 5/8 × 5 9/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Still Life Sketch

1868 · Graphite and pen and brown ink on cream laid paper

20.2 × 13.3 cm (8 × 5 1/4 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Christmas Stockings Hanging Over the Fireplace

1868 · Graphite on tan wove paper

12.9 × 13.4 cm (5 1/8 × 5 5/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Artwork sources (2)

8 published of 8 catalogued · 8 with image

Art Institute Chicago
7 published7 img
Cleveland Museum of Art
1 published1 img

Per-Artwork Provenance Chains (top 1)

1 entries · 1 sources

Memento Mori, "To This Favour"
1879 · Cleveland · 1 prov
Url Pattern Extraction 2026-05-27·accession_number

Record

Images

Met Museum

Cleveland Museum of Art

Art Institute of Chicago

Art Institute of Chicago

Art Institute of Chicago

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