Study for a group, "Vintage Festival," Mendelssohn Glee Club, New York, NY

Robert Frederick Blum's preparatory sketch captures three figures in dynamic poses, their bodies rendered with fluid linework characteristic of 1890s illustrative practice. The study demonstrates the artist's approach to figure composition and movement—essential skills for the large-scale mural or decorative work commissioned by the Mendelssohn Glee Club. Blum was known for his mastery of human anatomy and his ability to convey narrative through gesture. This drawing exemplifies the careful planning that preceded major public commissions in the Gilded Age, when illustration and fine art remained closely intertwined.