The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey No. 9

Elihu Vedder

ca. 1867–68 · Oil on canvas · The American Wing

Vedder is best known for his visionary paintings that contain classical and allegorical allusions, which were precursors to the Symbolist movement in the United States. This series of paintings, however, has a literary theme based on a specific text—Aesop’s fable "The Miller, His Son, and the Donkey". Vedder used his beloved Italy as the setting of the classic fable, in which a hapless miller and his son attempt to appease passing critics, resulting in the death of their precious donkey.

Artist

Elihu Vedder

Date

ca. 1867–68

Medium

Oil on canvas

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Gift of John V. and Enza Tomassi Kiskis, 1992