Traditional Still Lifes
My Gems
William Harnett
A masterfully detailed late 19th-century still life of scholarly objects and musical instruments.
Music and Literature
William Harnett
1878 · Oil Paint, Canvas
A masterfully rendered 19th-century still life celebrating the contemplative beauty of music and scholarship.
$129
For the selected configuration
From $129
1 frame size
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Made to order in ~2 business days · Free U.S. standard shipping (typically 5–8 business days after dispatch)
Where it works
A substantial, grounding work with warm, lived-in color — supports a polished room with depth.
- Often works in
- Study · Library · Office
- Placement
- Reads best above substantial furniture or an open wall
- Walls
- Benefits from light or mid-tone surroundings
- Color notes
- Charcoal black, Rich brown, Soft gray
About the piece
Painted in 1878, this oil-on-canvas by William Michael Harnett is a definitive example of American trompe-l'oeil. The composition expertly balances objects of intellectual and musical pursuit—worn volumes, flutes, and a snuffed candle—rendered with such precision they appear to project into the viewer's space.
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