Who painted Study for "The Eclipse of the Sun by the Moon"?

Study for "The Eclipse of the Sun by the Moon" was painted by Elihu Vedder in 1892.

Where can I see Study for "The Eclipse of the Sun by the Moon"?

Study for "The Eclipse of the Sun by the Moon" is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Study for "The Eclipse of the Sun by the Moon"?

Study for "The Eclipse of the Sun by the Moon" is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Study for "The Eclipse of the Sun by the Moon"

Elihu Vedder , 1892

Study for "The Eclipse of the Sun by the Moon" is a charcoal drawing by the Impressionist artist Elihu Vedder. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Elihu Vedder’s 1892 drawing, executed in charcoal and chalk on a sheet of green wove paper, serves as a preparatory study for a larger composition titled “The Eclipse of the Sun by the Moon.” The work presents a solitary, winged female figure seated upon a cloud, her posture and gestures suggesting a narrative moment tied to a celestial phenomenon.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure—a woman with expansive wings—holds a staff in her right hand while extending her left arm, her head tipped back as if gazing upward. Behind her looms a dark, ambiguous disc that can be read as either the sun or the moon, hinting at the eclipse motif that the final painting would elaborate.

Technique & Style

Vedder employs a combination of charcoal’s deep blacks and chalk’s softer tones to model the figure and cloud, creating a layered texture that conveys volume and atmospheric depth. The muted palette and careful shading emphasize the study’s introspective mood and allow the artist to explore light effects before committing them to the larger work.

History & Provenance

Created during Vedder’s mature period, the study reflects his ongoing interest in allegorical and mystical subjects, a preoccupation also evident in his celebrated illustrations for FitzGerald’s translation of the Rubaiyat. The drawing remains in a private collection, documented in the artist’s catalogue raisonné as a preparatory piece for the unfinished eclipse composition.

Context

At the turn of the 1890s, American symbolist painters like Vedder were drawn to themes that merged myth, astronomy, and personal symbolism. This study aligns with contemporary fascination with celestial events and the broader Symbolist aim of expressing inner states through evocative, often otherworldly imagery.