William John Hennessy was born in Ireland. He came to America in 1849 with his mother and brother a year following his father's fleeing their homeland after taking part in the unsuccessful Young Ireland Party uprising. The Hennessys settled in New York, and when young William came of age, he decided upon a career as an artist. At the age of 15, he enrolled at the National Academy of Design, where he learned to draw from the antique, and the following year he was granted admission to the Academy’s life-drawing class.
Hennessy first exhibited at the National Academy in 1857, starting a continuous run of appearances in their annuals that lasted until 1870, when he expatriated himself to Europe. During his time in America, Hennessy was principally known as a genre painter and prolific illustrator for such publications as Harper’s Weekly and a number of books, including illustrated works of William Cullen Bryant, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Alfred Lord Tennyson.
Hennessy left the United States and settled in London, living there and in its environs variously for a few years, and summered in Normandy, where he ultimately established a permanent residence in 1875. In 1893, Hennessy returned to England, but continued to spend a good deal of his time in France. Though the bulk of his career was spent abroad, Hennessy maintained a lifelong identification as an American, and exhibited with other American expatriates in both the Centennial Exposition, Philadelphia, in 1876, and also occasionally sent works to the National Academy’s annual exhibitions.
Few works by Hennessy are known today. From what one can glean from the surviving works, early on in his career, Hennessy appears to have concentrated on genre scenes and Barbizon-influenced landscapes, while in the late 1870s he appears to have adopted an more aestheticized style derived from Whistler and the English Pre-Raphaelites. His later works, from the mid-1890s on, show the strong influence of Impressionism.
Works by Hennessy are in public collections, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Brooklyn Museum, New York; the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut; the National Academy of Design, New York; the Mead Art Museum, Amherst College, Massachusetts; the Century Association, New York; and the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York.
(Biography provided by Hirschl & Adler)
"On the Sands, Long Island Sound" William John Hennessy, New York, Irish Artist
By William John Hennessy
Located in New York, NY
William John Hennessy On the Sands, Long Island Sound Signed and dated lower left; signed, dated, and titled on the reverse Oil on canvas 15 1/2 x 22 1/2 inches William John Hennes...
Canvas, Oil
Portrait of the Artist's Daughters, American Impressionism Painting, Signed
By William John Hennessy
Located in PARIS, FR
William John Hennessy Thomastown 1839 - Rudgwick 1917 Portrait of the Artist's Daughters Circa 1880 Oil on canvas mounted on cardboard Signed bottom left 33 x 23.5 cm canvas 44 x ...
Canvas, Oil, Cardboard
The Race
By William John Hennessy
Located in New York, NY
William John Hennessy was born in Ireland. He came to America in 1849 with his mother and brother a year after his father had fled their homeland after taking part in the unsuccessful Young Ireland Party uprising. The Hennessys settled in New York, and when young William came of age, he decided upon a career as an artist. At the age of fifteen, he enrolled at the National Academy of Design, where he learned to draw from the antique, and the following year he was granted admission to the Academy’s life-drawing class. Hennessy first exhibited at the National Academy in 1857, starting a continuous run of appearances in their annuals that lasted until 1870, when he expatriated himself to Europe. During his time in America, Hennessy was principally known as a genre painter and prolific illustrator for such publications as Harper’s Weekly and a number of books, including illustrated works of William Cullen Bryant...
Canvas, Oil
Take Me Home, 12x8" oil, framed
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Located in Loveland, CO
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Canvas, Oil
"Local Residents, " Oil painting
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Located in Denver, CO
Judd Mercer's (US based) "Local Residents," is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a green grassy pasture where a herd of black cows graze. About the Artist: Judd Mercer is a watercolor painter based in Denver, Colorado. After attending art school for industrial design, Judd pursued a career in digital design and user experience and is co-owner of Elevated Third, a Denver-based digital agency. After committing to writing and illustrating a full-length fantasy novel in his spare time, Judd began watercolor painting around 2014, studying with teachers such as Alvaro Castagnet, Joseph Zbukvic and Herman Pekel...
Canvas, Oil
$9,500
H 25.5 in W 21.5 in D 2 in
“Jamaican Girl by the Palm Tree, c. 1930” American Impressionist Portrait Lyme
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Located in Yardley, PA
“Jamaican Girl by the Palm Tree, c. 1930” by Will Howe Foote (American, 1874-1965) A fantastic portrait of a young Jamaican woman set against a vibrant palm frond, painted by the re...
Oil, Board
$12,000
H 24 in W 28 in
Impressionist Portrait of African American Family, Signed, 18x22
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
This impressionist painting by Virginia artist Walter Biggs captures a moment of quiet strength and familial connection. A seated man rests outside with his hat in hand, while a youn...
Canvas, Oil
$40,000
H 58 in W 52 in
"Glad and Rhododendron" Irving Ramsey Wiles, American Impressionist Portrait
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Located in New York, NY
Irving Ramsey Wiles Glad and Rhododendron, circa 1927 Inscribed indistinctly with title (on the turnover) Oil on canvas 46 x 40 inches Provenance The artist Estate of the artist Hir...
Canvas, Oil
$2,023
H 28 in W 38 in D 3 in
Three Children and Dog in a Rowing Boat at a Farmhouse Flower Garden in England
By Les Parson
Located in Preston, GB
Three Children and Dog in a Rowing Boat at a Farmhouse Flower Garden in England by British Artist, Les Parson entitled "Going Home". Art measures 30 x 20 ...
Canvas, Oil
Mid Century Native American Portrait
Located in Soquel, CA
Mid century Native American portrait by B. Shepard (American, 20th Century). Signed "B. Shepard" lower middle. Unframed. Currently on a mat, ...
Oil, Cardboard
$1,298
H 14 in W 16 in D 3 in
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By Jens Christian Bennedsen
Located in Preston, GB
Forest Landscape in Scandinavia with Silver Birch Trees by Danish Artist, Jens Christian Bennedsen (1893-1967) Art measures 12 x 10 inches Frame measures 16 x 14 inches This charm...
Canvas, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Oil
Portrait of a Girl with Flowers
By Pauline Palmer
Located in Milford, NH
A wonderful oil portrait of a girl with flowers with mottled light by American artist Pauline Lennards Palmer (1867-1938). Born in McHenry, Illinois, Palmer studied at the Art Instit...
Canvas, Oil, Panel
$13,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 12 in W 9 in
Girl with Braided Hair, Raphael Soyer
By Raphael Soyer
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Raphael Soyer (1899-1987) Title: Girl with Braided Hair Year: Circa 1947 Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 12 x 9 inches; framed size, 19 x 16 inches Condition: Excellent Inscripti...
Canvas, Oil
"Looking for Breakfast", Oil Painting
By Christopher Clark
Located in Denver, CO
Christopher Clark's (US based) "Looking for Breakfast" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a bird perched in a flooded grassy field. Bio/artist statement: Christopher has been an artist since early childhood, when he would watch Bob Ross on PBS and mimic the famed oil painter’s art with crayons. He considers himself a self-educated artist, with his studies ranging from personal training with contemporary masters, to classical academic art technique, with much inspiration from 19th Century art and the Impressionist Movement. Christopher lived in Italy for a time, immersing himself in Italian culture and art, which continues to influence his painting. His fan base has grown considerably since his return to the US, gaining the attention of Lucasfilm and Marvel Fine Art, which both signed him as an officially licensed artist in 2016. Other clients include George Lucas, Major League Baseball, Louisville Slugger...
Canvas, Oil
$1,223
H 18.25 in W 22.25 in D 2 in
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Located in Preston, GB
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Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil