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Elihu Vedder Most Popular Paintings

The 25 artworks by Elihu Vedder 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 · 25 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide Elihu Vedder · 1836 – 1923

(Illustration for Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám) The Bitter Cup

1884 · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. · original 34 x 26 cm

Elihu Vedder's 'The Bitter Cup' (1884) is a haunting watercolor illustration from Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, capturing themes of mortality and beauty with evocative symbolism.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey No. 1

1867 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 78 x 110 cm

Explore Elihu Vedder’s ‘The Fable of the Miller’! A Symbolist masterpiece depicting Aesop's tale in a rustic Italian setting. Classic realism & moral depth.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20238 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$425110 × 78 cm Commission at original size

The Fates Gathering in the Stars

1887 · Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago

Elihu Vedder's "The Fates Gathering in the Stars" (1887) depicts three goddesses amidst swirling clouds, showcasing Symbolist drama and Renaissance influence – a captivating masterpiece.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17727 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

(Illustration for Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám) The Cup of Death

1884 · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. · original 49 x 37 cm

Experience the tender intimacy of Elihu Vedder's 1884 illustration, capturing a gentle moment between lovers amidst scattered books; discover this romantic masterpiece today.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$20137 × 49 cm Commission at original size

The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey No. 9

1867 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 17 x 27 cm

Inspired by Aesop’s fable and influenced by Italian Renaissance painters like Giovanni Costa.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17738 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey No. 8

1867 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 17 x 27 cm

Explore Elihu Vedder’s ‘The Fable of the Miller’! A visionary Symbolist painting (1867) depicting Aesop's tale in earthy tones. Discover American art history.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17738 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey No. 4

1867 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 17 x 27 cm

Explore 'The Fable of the Miller' by Elihu Vedder (1867). A Symbolist masterpiece depicting Aesop’s tale in a realistic style, rich in classical allusions & earthy tones. Discover American art history.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$30238 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

The Lost Mind

1864 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 99.4 x 59.1cm

This somber Romantic oil painting by Elihu Vedder captures a solitary woman in a desolate landscape. Explore this evocative masterpiece today.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17726 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$32159 × 99 cm Commission at original size

The Sun God

1882 · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. · original 78 x 37 cm

A mesmerizing symbolist vision of a crowned female deity emerges in Elihu Vedder's The Sun God, an 1882 masterpiece of mystical beauty that invites you to bring this captivating piece of history into your collection.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17738 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$23378 × 37 cm Commission at original size

The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey No. 6

1867 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 17 x 27 cm

Explore Elihu Vedder’s ‘The Fable of the Miller’! A visionary Symbolist painting rich in classical allusions & earthy tones. Discover this 1867 masterpiece's unique style and narrative depth.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$32738 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

Feisole

1859 · Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit

Explore 'Feisole' by Elihu Vedder (1859). A Romantic Italian landscape painting showcasing serene beauty & architectural detail. Discover Symbolist art & Vedder’s evocative style.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17744 × 23 cm Commission this artwork

A Glimpse into Hell, or Fear

1893 · Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago

This haunting Symbolist oil painting by Elihu Vedder captures intense psychological dread. Discover this evocative masterpiece today.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$27736 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey No. 5

1867 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 17 x 27 cm

Explore Elihu Vedder’s ‘The Fable of the Miller’! A visionary Symbolist painting (1867) depicting Aesop's tale in earthy tones. Discover American art history.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$30238 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

(Illustration for Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám) The Magdalen

1884 · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. · original 49 x 37 cm

A hauntingly beautiful illustration from Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat by Elihu Vedder (1884). This evocative image captures the melancholic spirit of the poems with its symbolic imagery and masterful technique.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 14 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$20137 × 49 cm Commission at original size

Cypress and Poppies

1880 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 24.8 x 50.8cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17745 × 22 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$18551 × 25 cm Commission at original size

The Cup of Death

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. · original 113.98 x 57.15cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20222 × 45 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$36457 × 114 cm Commission at original size

The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey No. 7

1867 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 17 x 27 cm

Inspired by Aesop’s fable and influenced by Italian Renaissance art, Vedder's masterpiece showcases Symbolist aesthetics.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17738 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

Pansies and Spirea

1882 · Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 18 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17724 × 42 cm Commission this artwork

Memory

1870 · Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles · original 51.2 x 37.47cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 19 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17727 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$20437 × 51 cm Commission at original size

Soul in Bondage

1891 · Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn · original 96.1 x 60.9cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 20 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17725 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$32061 × 96 cm Commission at original size

The Keeper of the Threshold

1897 · Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh · original 132.08 x 132.08cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 21 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17732 × 31 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$657132 × 132 cm Commission at original size

San Gimignano

1879 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 35.2 x 27.3cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 22 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17726 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

The Poet Bears the Sorrows of the World

1890 · Georgia Museum of Art, Athens

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 23 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17725 × 40 cm Commission this artwork

The Cumean Sibyl

1876 · Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 24 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17739 × 25 cm Commission this artwork

The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey No. 3

1867 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 17 x 27 cm

Explore Elihu Vedder’s ‘The Fable of the Miller’! A visionary Symbolist painting (1867) depicting Aesop's tale in earthy tones. Discover American art history.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 25 of 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17738 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

Elihu Vedder

1836 – 1923

Quick facts

Also known asエリュー・ヴェッダー, Илайхью Веддер, Еліу Веддер, 伊莱休·维德
Emotional tonemelancholic
Art period19th Century
Topics exploreddonkey, italy, symbolism, symbolic imagery, allegory
Room fitliving room
Top-ranked work(Illustration for Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám) The Bitter Cup
Copyright statusPublic domain
Color intensitybalanced, monochromatic

Biography

Early Life and Artistic Training

Born: February 26, 1836, New York City, United States
Died: January 29, 1923, Rome, Italy

Elijah Vedder was born into a family with unique circumstances – his parents were cousins. His early life was shaped by diverse experiences including time spent in Cuba due to his father's relocation and periods between his maternal grandfather’s home in Schenectady and boarding school. Despite initial reservations from his father, Vedder's artistic ambitions were supported by his mother.

Early Training: Vedder began formal training in New York City under Tompkins H. Matteson.
European Studies: He furthered his studies in Paris with François-Édouard Picot and later in Italy, where he was profoundly influenced by the Italian Renaissance and the Macchiaioli painters.
Italian Influence: His time in Italy fostered a deep emotional connection with fellow painter Giovanni Costa, leading to travels before financial constraints forced his return to America.

Career Highlights and Notable Works

Vedder’s career spanned various artistic disciplines, from painting and illustration to mural design and poetry. He cultivated friendships with prominent figures like Walt Whitman and Herman Melville.

Illustrations for the Rubaiyat: Vedder is best known for his fifty-five illustrations accompanying Edward FitzGerald's translation of The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam (deluxe edition). These illustrations are considered masterpieces of Symbolist art.
Visionary Paintings: Notable paintings include "The Roc’s Egg," “The Fisherman and the Genii,” and “Lair of the Sea Serpent,” showcasing his visionary style and imaginative themes.
Mural Work: He decorated the hallway of the Reading Room in the Washington Library of Congress with mural paintings.
Tiffany Collaboration: Vedder collaborated with Louis Comfort Tiffany, designing glassware, mosaics, and statuettes for the Tiffany company.

Artistic Style and Influences

Vedder’s artistic style is characterized by its visionary nature, romantic imagery, and frequent incorporation of Oriental influences.

Symbolism: Vedder was a key figure in the Symbolist movement, emphasizing emotion and individualism over strict realism.
Pre-Raphaelites: His time in England exposed him to the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, influencing his artistic style towards greater clarity and detail.
English and Irish Mystics: He was influenced by the works of William Blake and William Butler Yeats, reflecting a fascination with mysticism and spirituality.
Italian Renaissance & Macchiaioli: His studies in Italy shaped his understanding of form, color, and composition.

Legacy and Later Life

Vedder’s contributions to American art extended beyond painting. He helped establish the In Arte Libertas group in Italy and left behind a body of written work including autobiographical reflections and poetry.

Membership: Vedder was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Literary Pursuits: He published The Digressions of V (1910), Miscellaneous Moods in Verse (1914), and Doubt and Other Things (1922).
Later Years: Vedder spent his later years primarily in Italy, continuing to create art and write until his death in Rome in 1923. His legacy endures through his evocative paintings and illustrations that continue to captivate audiences today.

Questions & Answers

Can I visit a virtual museum of Elihu Vedder's works?

Elihu Vedder's artworks can be seen in a 3D gallery on the artist's 3D Museum page.

How many artworks by Elihu Vedder are available to browse?

You can browse 119 artworks by Elihu Vedder on the All Artworks page.

How can I follow Elihu Vedder's work year by year?

The artist's Artwork Timeline page presents Elihu Vedder's works ordered by date, year by year.

By the WikiOO.org Editorial Team Updated Sept. 1, 2026

Collector's quiz

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All artworks by Elihu Vedder