William G. Muller

There is probably no other artist alive that has made as thorough a study of the vessels that plied New York Harbor and the Hudson River during the great age of Steam than Bill Muller. From classic steamships, like the Fall River Line’s Bay State, as seen in this painting, to the Great Liners.  Muller grew up on the Hudson River, and actually served as Quartermaster on the last of the coal-fired steamers- the Alexander Hamilton- in the 1950’s, where he studied and painted this ship, and other historic landmarks with a passion and accuracy that has not been equaled. Recognized by marine historians and curators as a master in his field, marine artist Bill Muller, in the time-honored tradition of sea painters, has lived what he paints. His canvases are imbued with a sensitivity, accuracy and vitality that comes only from first hand experience and a love for and deep understanding of his subject matter. Bill Muller is a living link to the days when majestic paddle steamers plied the Hudson River.

Inspired during his boyhood years in the 1940's, while watching the colorful surviving vessels of an earlier era, Bill has emerged as a preeminent historical painter whose marine canvases capture and preserve the spirit of our nation's glorious maritime past. Bill's work has been seen by millions in a wide variety of publications including American Heritage, Business Week, Yachting, Yankee, Sea History, Art Today, U.S. Art and on numerous book covers. His work has been exhibited in various marine museums and is represented in many important private and corporate collections.

Bill is a Founding Director and Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists and is an elected member of the Society of American Historical Artists. He is an advisor to the National Maritime Historical Society and was a founder of the Hudson River Maritime Center Museum at Rondout, New York.

In 1985 Bill was commissioned, in recognition of his historical expertise, to design two turn-of-the century, steamboat-style harbor cruise boats for the South Street Seaport Museum in New York City. The jaunty sidewheeler ANDREW FLETCHER and the handsome twin-screw DeWITT CLINTON are unique and popular vessels that add a welcomed dash of color to the contemporary New York Harbor scene.

Bill currently divides his time between producing commissioned paintings for individual collectors, and creating new works for the galleries that represent him.