(Illustration for Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám) The Invitation

Art Historical Context

Elihu Vedder's *The Invitation* (1883–1884) is a captivating drawing from his renowned series of illustrations for EdwardGerald's English translation of the *Rubiyát of Omar Khayyám*, the 11th-century Persian poet's verses celebrating life's fleeting pleasures amid themes of mortality and ecstasy. Created during Vedder's mature phase in Rome, where he immersed himself in Eastern mysticism and Symbolist aesthetics, this work exemplifies his dreamlike style—blending Pre-Raphael precision with ethereal, allegorical forms. The waist-length figure evokes an intimate summons to embrace existence, surrounded by symbolic motifs like the iris flower (representing hope and wisdom in Persian tradition) and a clock, nodding to the *Rubáiyát*'s carpe diem ethos: "The Bird of Time has but a little way / To fly—and Lo! the Bird is on the Wing." As a preparatory drawing in ink or mixed media, it highlights Vedder's masterful line work and tonal subtlety, techniques that brought the poetry's sensuality to life in the 1884 edition. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum through a poignant gift honoring Francis Tracy Henderson, this piece underscores Vedder's pivotal role in bridging 19th-century American art with global literary heritage, inviting visitors to ponder time's urgency through its poetic allure.

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...