Cartoon for Mars 1893

Elihu Vedder’s 1893 “Cartoon for Mars” is a study for a larger mural depicting the Roman god of war. The piece is rendered in pencil and watercolor and shows Mars holding a spear, while a shield and a chariot wheel are visible in the lower right corner. This preliminary sketch is executed with a sharp line and subtle washes of color, and it highlights the artist’s careful attention to detail in his compositional and anatomical studies.