The Questioner of the Sphinx
Artist
Elihu Vedder
(American, 1836–1923)
Dateabout 1875
Mediumoil on canvas
Dimensions27.3 x 31.3 cm (10 3/4 x 12 5/16 in.)
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Riley, Jr.
Object number1974.330
Label TextVedder painted The Questioner of the Sphinx decades before traveling to Egypt; his extensive knowledge of mythology and folklore informed this work. The subject reflects the popularity of Ancient Egypt and revivalist styles at the time. Isolated in the desert, an elderly traveler in tattered clothing awaits some great truth from the enigmatic monument. In the left corner of the painting, a partially buried human skull suggests the quest is futile. The Sphinx is a subject that recurs in Vedder’s work, most notably the acclaimed 1863 version at the Museum of the Fine Arts in Boston.ProvenanceMr. and Mrs. Stuart Riley, Jr., Cranston, RIOn View
Not on view
