Artwork
Memento Mori, "To This Favour"
Memento Mori, "To This Favour" is an oil painting by the Realist artist William Harnett. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a skull rendered in oil paint, a traditional vanitas symbol emphasizing mortality and the transience of life. The work is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art collection and was created in the United States in 1879.
The symbolic use of the skull aligns with the memento mori tradition, reminding viewers of inevitable death and the futility of worldly pursuits.
Technique & Style
As a still life within the American tradition, the piece relies on the artist's characteristic handling of oil paint to render the illusion of tangible objects.
William Harnett's Memento Mori, "To This Favour" is an oil painting executed on canvas in 1879. The work measures 61.3 cm in height and 81.5 cm in width. As a still life within the American tradition, the piece relies on the artist's characteristic handling of oil paint to render the illusion of tangible objects. The medium and support combination allows for the detailed textural contrasts typical of Harnett's trompe-l'oeil style.
History & Provenance
Memento Mori, "To This Favour" is an 1879 oil painting on canvas by William Harnett. The work entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on display.
The painting measures 61.3 cm by 81.5 cm and was created in the United States.
It was catalogued in 1965 under accession number 1965.235.
The work has been part of the museum’s permanent collection since its acquisition, with no documented private sales or transfers prior to that point.
Overview
William Harnett’s 1890 oil painting Memento Mori, “To This Favour” presents a meticulously rendered still life that combines scholarly objects with a stark reminder of mortality. The composition is anchored by a dark wooden table supporting aged books, an open page, and a human skull, while a solitary candle supplies subdued illumination.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
William Michael Harnett (August 10, 1848 – October 29, 1892) was an American painter known for his trompe-l'œil still lifes of ordinary objects.
