1848-1892. A still-life specialist regarded as America's foremost painter of trompe l'oeil works, Harnett popularized a new style during his brief career. In a day when flowers and fine-looking edibles tended to dominate still-life paintings, Harnett incorporated a broad new vocabulary of objects into his compositions, including newspapers, books, letters, dead game, ink bottles, ceramics, musical instruments, tankards, pipes, horseshoes, and candlesticks (to name a few), all painted in highly realistic detail. He arranged these and other elements in a relatively casual manner, piled upon desks or tabletops, pinned up onto doors or boards, or tucked behind ribbons in what became known as "rack" paintings.

The Irish-born Harnett moved to Philadelphia as a young child, and although he had no formal students, he inspired a number of painters to work in the style he pioneered. With their rich, realistic color, convincing compositional formats, and lifelike details, his works are remarkably believable deceptions, and they sold readily during his lifetime. After a period of relative obscurity in the early 20th century, Harnett's works enjoyed renewed appreciation when renowned modernist dealer Edith Halpert featured them in a landmark exhibition at the Downtown Gallery in 1939. Harnett painted his works with a high degree of precision and care (perhaps due to his early training as a silver engraver), and as expertly conceived and executed works of art, they transcend the novelty of mere illusionism.