William Bartlett was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1960 and raised in Dover. At an early age he was influenced by the work of his mother’s cousin, Walker Hancock who was a renowned sculptor working in the classical style. Bartlett vividly recalls sitting in his Gloucester studio and watching him sculpt plaster-scene for his monumental bronze castings. Hancock would often critique young Bartlett’s early drawings and offer advice in working as a realist, stating, “all the great sculptors could draw so learn to draw, develop a good understanding in form and gesture. These are the foundations for creating great artwork.”Bartlett completed his earliest training at the Museum of Fine Art’s Saturday classes with teacher Ralph Rosenthal. At the age of seventeen, He became a member of the Copley Society of Boston and later attended the Museum of Fine Arts School. In 1982 he went on to study for the next four years with Joseph L.C. Santoro ANA, AWS.Determined to continue his education as a traditional realist, Bartlett then spent five years of study at the studio of Paul Ingbretson, a “Boston School” master who emphasized the methods of the 19th century French ateliers.Bartlett is best known for his still life, tromp l’oeil and figurative paintings. He is represented by galleries in Massachusetts and California and his paintings hang in esteemed private and corporate collections throughout the United States. Bartlett is currently a sought after instructor working in the methods of the Boston School Tradition. He is a member of the Guild of Boston Artists. He currently lives and paints in Needham, Massachusetts.