The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey No. 4

Elihu Vedder American
ca. 1867–68
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 774
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.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Fable of the Miller, His Son, and the Donkey No. 4
  • Artist: Elihu Vedder (American, New York 1836–1923 Rome)
  • Date: ca. 1867–68
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 6 1/2 x 10 3/4 in. (16.5 x 27.3 cm)
  • Credit Line: Gift of John V. and Enza Tomassi Kiskis, 1992
  • Object Number: 1992.205.4
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.