Where can I see The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey?

The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey?

The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey is associated with Realism.

Can I buy a print of The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey?

Museum-quality prints of The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey

Elihu Vedder , 1867

The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey is an oil painting by the Realist artist Elihu Vedder. It dates from 1867 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Created in 1867, the work visualizes the classic fable where the protagonists encounter various public reactions regarding how they interact with the animal.

The painting illustrates the narrative of a miller, his son, and a donkey, depicting the three central figures alongside a dog. Created in 1867, the work visualizes the classic fable where the protagonists encounter various public reactions regarding how they interact with the animal. The composition captures the specific moment of the journey, focusing on the relationship between the human figures and the donkey.

While the source explicitly lists the depicted subjects as a man, a boy, a donkey, and a dog, it does not provide further details on specific iconographic symbols or the deeper allegorical meaning intended by the artist beyond the literal representation of the fable's characters.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1867, Elihu Vedder's The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 16.5 by 27.3 units, indicating a small-scale format typical of cabinet paintings or illustrative studies. As a painted composition, the piece utilizes oil pigments applied to a woven textile support, a standard medium for nineteenth-century American artists working in narrative genres.

The subject matter features a donkey, a man, and a dog, rendered through the layering capabilities inherent to oil paint, which allows for the modulation of tone and texture required for figurative storytelling. The classification as a painting confirms the application of wet media rather than graphic or sculptural techniques.

History & Provenance

Elihu Vedder painted The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey in 1867 using oil on canvas. The work, classified as a painting, measures 16.5 × 27.3 cm and depicts a dog, a donkey, and a man. It entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it has been displayed since its acquisition, establishing the museum as its current owner.

The painting’s creation history is documented through its date of inception, material specifications, and dimensions recorded in the museum’s catalogue. No commission details are recorded in the available sources.

Elihu Vedder's 1867 oil painting, The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The institution catalogs the work under the accession number 1992.205.6. While the artwork's physical dimensions and medium are documented within the museum's records, the available sources do not provide specific details regarding its exhibition history or prior provenance.

Overview

Elihu Vedder, an American artist known for his Symbolist leanings, completed The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey in 1867. This oil painting captures a bustling street scene, characteristic of the Realist movement. The work is presently housed in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, offering a glimpse into Vedder's early career before his widespread recognition for illustrative projects.

Context

Created by New York-born Elihu Vedder, this painting predates his most celebrated artistic endeavor: the fifty-five illustrations for Edward FitzGerald’s translation of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. While Vedder later became associated with Symbolism and illustration, The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey reflects his engagement with Realist principles during the mid-19th century, showcasing his versatility across different artistic currents.