Sheet of studies for Huntington Ceiling c. 1893

Elihu Vedder’s “Sheet of Studies for Huntington Ceiling” is a collection of preliminary sketches for a larger mural project. Created in 1893, the work displays Vedder’s characteristic style of drawing, using fluid, expressive lines to depict figures in a variety of poses. The studies are likely for the ceiling of the Huntington Library, but this detail is unclear. Though not fully realized, these sketches are a fascinating window into the creative process of a great artist like Vedder. These studies of figures and compositions are particularly noteworthy, as they represent the early stages of developing a large-scale project.