Nascent Art Nouveau

Back before Christmas developed all its current stereotypes, holiday art was free ranging — exploring nuances of spirit.

Entitled Luna, this is a work-up for a cover of Harpers Magazine in 1882 by Elihu Vedder, displaying some nascent Art Nouveau, well before Nouveau reached its peak with Mucha.

Mysterious Pleiades

The Pleiades, over the centuries, have exerted a strong influence on the human imagination, stretching from realms of goddesses to alien civilizations. 

Above is a photo from a Carl Sagan book, and below is a painting by Elihu Vedder, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Both images are mysterious in their own ways.

Below, a study for the painting above.