Study of Extended Hand

This anatomical study by American artist Elihu Vedder demonstrates the careful observation required for figure drawing in the late nineteenth century. The extended hand, rendered in charcoal and white chalk on toned paper, shows the musculature and bone structure beneath the skin, with particular attention to the gesture of the fingers and the drape of drapery at the wrist. Such studies formed the foundation of academic training and were essential reference material for illustrators and painters working in this era.