Who painted Father, Son, and Donkey?

Father, Son, and Donkey was painted by Elihu Vedder in 1859.

Where can I see Father, Son, and Donkey?

Father, Son, and Donkey is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Father, Son, and Donkey?

Father, Son, and Donkey is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Father, Son, and Donkey

Elihu Vedder , 1859

Father, Son, and Donkey is a graphite drawing by the Impressionist artist Elihu Vedder. It dates from 1859 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1859, this graphite drawing on wove paper presents a compact group of travelers—a father, his son, and a donkey—rendered in a concise, linear manner. The work belongs to the early period of Elihu Vedder, an American artist later noted for his symbolist paintings and book illustrations.

Subject & Meaning

The composition shows two figures mounted on donkeys, positioned side by side, with a third donkey and rider suggested in the background. The arrangement evokes a simple narrative of a familial journey, emphasizing the relationship between the elder and the child as they move together through an undefined landscape.

Technique & Style

Vedder employs a restrained graphite technique, using swift, unshaded strokes that highlight form and motion rather than surface detail. The paper’s texture is visible, and the lines remain loose and gestural, creating a sense of immediacy that captures the fleeting dynamics of travel.

History & Provenance

The drawing is an early example of Vedder’s draftsmanship, produced before his later fame as an illustrator of Edward FitzGerald’s *Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam*. It reflects his initial interest in narrative and allegorical subjects, and it remains a documented piece within collections that trace his development from student sketches to mature symbolist works.