I often look to other artists for inspiration and came across the beautiful work of Elihu Vedder (1836-1923). Classified as a Symbolist painter, Elihu is best known for his illustrations for "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam" (classic Persian poem). The Smithsonian has organized exhibits of his pieces--the latest was at the Phoenix Art Museum last year. Here's an excerpt about him:
"From the moment of its publication, Elihu Vedder's Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám achieved unparalleled success. Released in 1884, the first edition sold out in six days. Critics rushed to acclaim it as a masterwork of American art, and Vedder as the master American artist."
Here's more info from the Smithsonian Institute by Richard Murray here. Some of his pieces could be purchased at ArtRenewal.org.
