the collector's folio

John Sartain Most Popular Paintings

The 8 artworks by John Sartain our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 8 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide John Sartain · 1808 – 1897

John Sartain, William Still (1872)

1872 · National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C. · original 15 x 9 cm

Vintage 1872 portrait of William Still by John Sartain, showcasing masterful mezzotint engraving skill; discover this historical piece today.

View the most popular artwork of John Sartain ranked #1: William Still

Art Movement: Victorian Era
Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 8 artworks by John Sartain
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17027 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Richard Rush

original 13 x 10 cm

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 8 artworks by John Sartain
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17028 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Muse of Cortona, John Sartain

1885

View the most popular artwork of John Sartain ranked #3: Muse of Cortona

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 8 artworks by John Sartain
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17029 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Home on a Furlough by John Sartain

View the most popular artwork of John Sartain ranked #4: Home on a Furlough

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 8 artworks by John Sartain
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17036 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

William Henry Harrison, John Sartain

1897 · original 52 x 35 cm

William Henry Harrison portrait by John Sartain (1897). Admire this academic oil painting of a statesman's dignified presence & historical context. Explore 19th-century art!

View the most popular artwork of John Sartain ranked #5: William Henry Harrison

Art Movement: Academic Portraiture
Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 8 artworks by John Sartain
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17026 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$19435 × 52 cm Commission at original size

Osceola

Color Palette: Earthy

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 8 artworks by John Sartain
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17029 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

The Haunted Stream – John Sartain

1846 · original 12 x 19 cm

View the most popular artwork of John Sartain ranked #7: The Haunted Stream

Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 8 artworks by John Sartain
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17037 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled (AQZDZ2), 2012, John Sartain

2012

Admire John Sartain’s monochrome portrait of Bishop Fish Campbells – a dignified 19th-century engraving showcasing meticulous detail & formal elegance. Explore this historical artwork!

View the most popular artwork of John Sartain ranked #8: Untitled (AQZDZ2)

Art Movement: 19th Century Portraiture
Color Palette: Neutrals

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 8 artworks by John Sartain
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17027 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

John Sartain

1808 – 1897

Quick facts

Top-ranked workWilliam Still
Top 3 worksWilliam Still, Richard Rush, Muse of Cortona
Born1808, London, United Kingdom
Lifespan89 years
Works on APS8
Topics explored19th century
Typical colorsearthy, neutrals

Biography

John Sartain: A Pioneer of Mezzotint Engraving in America

Born: London, United Kingdom (October 24, 1808)
Died: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (October 25, 1897)
Nationality: British-American

Early Life and Training

Sartain's early life was marked by hardship; he became responsible for his family’s support at a young age.
He began working as an assistant scene painter at the age of eleven, gaining initial artistic experience.
From 1823 to 1830, he apprenticed under engraver John Swaine, mastering line engraving and developing skills in heraldry and letter work.
He studied painting under John Varley and Henry James Richter, broadening his artistic foundation.

Career and Artistic Development

In 1830, Sartain emigrated to the United States and settled in Philadelphia, marking a pivotal shift in his career.
Initially, he focused on portrait painting in oil and miniatures before dedicating himself primarily to engraving.
He pioneered mezzotint engraving in America, reviving a technique that had been popular in England.
His work for Graham's Magazine (1841-1848) significantly contributed to the publication’s success and established his reputation.
Sartain became editor and proprietor of Campbell's Foreign Semi-Monthly Magazine (1843) and later, Sartain's Union Magazine (1849-1852), showcasing his editorial and publishing abilities alongside his artistic endeavors.
He produced a vast quantity of plates for book illustrations throughout his career, demonstrating remarkable productivity.

Major Achievements and Notable Relationships

Pioneering Mezzotint: Sartain is best known for re-establishing mezzotint engraving as a significant art form in the United States.
Friendship with Edgar Allan Poe: A notable episode involved Sartain providing refuge to a distressed Edgar Allan Poe, who sought assistance and confided in him about perceived threats. This event led to the publication of Poe’s poem “The Bells” in Sartain's Union Magazine posthumously.
Artistic Leadership: He held various leadership roles within Philadelphia's art community, including positions with the Artists' Fund Society, School of Design for Women, and Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
Centennial Exposition: Sartain served as director of the art department at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, earning recognition from the King of Italy with the title of Cavaliere of the Order of the Crown of Italy.

Legacy and Historical Significance

Sartain’s dedication to art education and his contributions to various artistic institutions helped foster a vibrant cultural landscape in Philadelphia.
His revival of mezzotint engraving ensured its continued presence in American art, providing a valuable technique for reproducing paintings and creating original prints.
The Sartain family's legacy extended beyond John himself, with several of his children also pursuing artistic careers, further solidifying their impact on the American art scene.
His autobiography, Reminiscences of a Very Old Man (1899), provides valuable insights into his life and career.

Questions & Answers

How many artworks by John Sartain are available to browse?

You can browse 8 artworks by John Sartain on the All Artworks page.

Is there a complete list of John Sartain's artworks?

Every work by John Sartain on this website can be browsed from the artist's All Artworks page.

What are the birthplace and birth year of John Sartain?

John Sartain was born in London in 1808.

By the AllPaintingsStore.com Editorial Team Updated Sept. 3, 2026

Collector's quiz

Where was John Sartain born?
What artistic technique did John Sartain pioneer in the United States?
Who was a notable author that Sartain befriended and assisted?
What periodical did John Sartain eventually publish with George Rex Graham?

one You choose the size

Standard formats or any custom dimension, matched to the proportions of the original.

two We paint and send a preview

A photo of the finished canvas for your approval before it is shipped.

three Delivered, certified

Rolled, stretched or framed, insured, with a certificate of authenticity.

Commission your John Sartain

Every artwork by John Sartain in our catalog can be painted to order, in the size that suits the room.

All artworks by John Sartain