George Henry Hall 1825-1913

George Henry Hall was one of the most respected and most successful still life painters of the 19th century. He was known for sensual, expressive paintings and for his mastery of both the tabletop and the natural still life setting. Hall was born in 1825 in Manchester, New Hampshire, although his family moved to Boston at a young age. Hall studied in Düsseldorf, Germany, as well as in Paris and Rome. He eventually returned to the states, in 1852, and settled down in New York City. 

Associated with the Pre-Raphaelites and the Ruskinian tradition of painting still-lifes in natural settings, Hall distinguished himself through his usage of a rich, dark color palette and a highly polished finish. Hall described his interest in still life as “being driven by his interest in color,” and indeed, his still lifes are captivating for their play with light and shadow and for the interesting visual effects caused by such exploration. Incredibly successful in his lifetime, Hall exhibited at numerous institutions, including the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Royal Academy, the National Academy of Design, and the Art Institute of Chicago.