(Illustration for Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám) The Awakening

Art Historical Context

Elihu Vedder's *The Awakening* (1883–1884) is a captivating drawing from his renowned series of illustrations for Edward FitzGerald's English translation of the *Rubáiyát of Omarayyám*. This Persian poetry collection, celebrated for its themes of life's fleeting joys, mortality, and spiritual awakening, inspired Vedder—a leading American artist influenced by Pre-Raphaelite andist aesthetics—to create over 50 intricate works for a lavish 1884 edition. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, piece exemplifies Vedder's ability to blend Eastern mysticism with Western romanticism during the late 19th-century Aesthetic Movement. Rendered as a drawing, likely in pencil, chalk, or mixed media typical of Vedder's preparatory style, *The Awakening* captures a full-length figure evoking life's profound stirrings, accompanied by an angelic presence. The medium's intimacy allows for delicate linework and subtle shading, emphasizing symbolic depth over realism—hallmarks of Vedder's dreamlike visions that elevated book illustration to fine art. Culturally, Vedder's *Rubáiyát* series bridged Victorian-era fascination with exoticism and introspection, influencing American art and design. Acquired through museum purchase and a memorial gift, it invites visitors to ponder Khayyám's timeless quatrains: awakening to beauty amid life's ephemerality.

About the Artist

Elihu Vedder · 1836–1923

Elihu Vedder was born on February 26, 1836, in New York City to Dr. Elihu Vedder Sr., a dentist, and his cousin Elizabeth Vedder. As a young boy, his family relocated to Cuba for his father's ventures, an experience that sparked his artistic aspirations amid the Caribbean landscapes. He later divided his time between a boarding school and his maternal grandfather Alexander Vedder's home in Schenec...