Cartoon for Venus c. 1893

Elihu Vedder's "Cartoon for Venus" (c. 1893) is a black and white drawing that depicts the Roman goddess of love and beauty standing on a seashell as two figures flank her. The central figure of Venus is depicted in a graceful pose, her body and limbs elongated. The figure on the left, likely a nymph, plays a horn with a winged, floral form while the figure on the right, possibly a sea creature, looks towards the viewer. The drawing is framed by a crescent moon with a sun above. Vedder's characteristic style is evident in the intricate detail and symbolic imagery, typical of his Pre-Raphaelite influences.