Who painted Study for "Greek Girls Bathing"?

Study for "Greek Girls Bathing" was painted by Elihu Vedder in 1872.

Where can I see Study for "Greek Girls Bathing"?

Study for "Greek Girls Bathing" is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Study for "Greek Girls Bathing"?

Study for "Greek Girls Bathing" is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Study for "Greek Girls Bathing"

Elihu Vedder , 1872

Study for "Greek Girls Bathing" is a crayon drawing by the Impressionist artist Elihu Vedder. It dates from 1872 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Elihu Vedder’s drawing *Study for “Greek Girls Bathing*’, executed circa 1872, is a crayon rendering on purple laid paper. The work functions as a preparatory sketch for a larger composition, illustrating Vedder’s practice of developing figure studies before completing finished paintings.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a single nude female figure, positioned as if engaged in bathing. As a study, the image emphasizes the anatomy and pose rather than narrative detail, offering insight into Vedder’s approach to classical themes and the idealized representation of the human form.

Technique & Style

Vedder employed crayon on a colored ground, allowing the purple hue of the laid paper to influence the tonal values of the drawing. The medium permits swift, gestural marks that capture the figure’s volume and movement, characteristic of Vedder’s preparatory sketches in the Symbolist period.

History & Provenance

Created during Vedder’s early career in New York, the study predates his later fame as a Symbolist painter and book illustrator. While specific ownership records are limited, the work reflects the artist’s broader output that included numerous designs for Edward FitzGerald’s *Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám*.