This section provides an overview of Munich Still Life, a renowned painting by William Michael Harnett. Created in 1882, the painting is an example of trompe-l’œil still lifes of ordinary objects. The medium used is oil on canvas and the dimensions are 24 5/8 x 30 1/16 in. The painting features assembled objects such as bread, turnips, paper, matches, and glass.
Harnett was a skilled painter who displayed great facility with different textures rendered in oil paint. He was born in County Cork, Ireland but later migrated to America where he settled down in Philadelphia. To improve his skill in still-life painting, Harnett studied abroad for several years in Munich and Paris.
With Munich Still Life, Harnett combines sophistication and precision with a depiction of a variety of materials and textures among everyday objects. His technique and attention to detail create an illusion where viewers feel as though they could reach into the picture and touch the items depicted.
Overall, Munich Still Life represents both Harnett’s immense talent as well as his dedication to crafting masterful representations of seemingly everyday objects that captivate audiences worldwide.
