William Crothers Fitler was born in Philadelphia and studied art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. He was a tonalist landscape painter and most of his works depict views of New York, Connecticut or Long Island. Fitler was a member of the Salmagundi Club, New York Watercolor Club, Brooklyn Art Association, Artists Fund Society and New York Municipal Art Society. He exhibited widely to include the National Academy (1880-1907), Brooklyn Art Club (1881-1886), Boston Art Club (181-1908), the Pennsylvania Academy (1879-1898) and the Art Institute of Chicago (1889 - 1911). Fitler was married to Claude Raquet Hirst, a well recognized artist known as the female "Harnett."