← Back to the Library

Open Access Art Gallery

Monsters, Myths & Marvels

Dragons, griffins, sphinxes, angels, witches and demon-slayers: a small gallery of fantastic creatures and visions from world art, all from the Cleveland Museum of Art's Open Access collection.

Jar with Dragon Design — Jar with Dragon DesignKorea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), 1700s
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1986.85 · CC0 · source

Kneeling Winged Monster — Kneeling Winged MonsterChina, Hebei province, northern Xiangtangshan caves, North cave, Northern Qi dynasty (550-577), 550–77
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1957.360 · CC0 · source

Bloodstone Cameo with Saint George — Bloodstone Cameo with Saint GeorgeByzantium, Contantinople, Byzantine period, 11th century, 1000–1100
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1959.41 · CC0 · source

Heraldic Panel with Arms of Lichtenfels and a Unicorn Hunt — Heraldic Panel with Arms of Lichtenfels and a Unicorn HuntGermany or Switzerland, 16th century, c. 1515
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1954.149 · CC0 · source

Durga Destroying the Buffalo Demon — Durga Destroying the Buffalo DemonNorthern India, Kashmir or Himachal Pradesh, 9th-10th Century, 800s–900s
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1982.45 · CC0 · source

The Witch (Night Piece) — The Witch (Night Piece)Jan van de Velde II (Dutch, c. 1593–1641), 1626
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1943.635 · CC0 · source

A Flying Angel (recto) — A Flying Angel (recto)Giovanni Battista Piazzetta (Italian, 1682–1754), 1723–27
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1938.388.a · CC0 · source

The Moon-Viewing Promontory, from One Hundred Views of Famous Places in Edo — The Moon-Viewing Promontory, from One Hundred Views of Famous Places in EdoUtagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797–1858), 1857
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1985.320 · CC0 · source

The Griffin — The GriffinMartin Schongauer (German, c. 1450–1491), c. 1480–90
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1926.466 · CC0 · source

Sphinx — SphinxGreek/South Italian, Taranto, c. 500 BCE
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1985.49 · CC0 · source

Phoenix-Headed Ewer — Phoenix-Headed EwerChina, possibly Guangdong Province, Xicun, Northern Song dynasty (960–1127), 1000s
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1965.468 · CC0 · source

Dragon — DragonFachang Muqi (Chinese, 1220–1280), c. 1250–79
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1958.427.1 · CC0 · source

Dragon and Tiger — Dragon and TigerSesson Shūkei (Japanese, c. 1492–c. 1577), c. 1546–56
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1959.136.1 · CC0 · source

Dragon in foliage with lion and phoenix heads — Dragon in foliage with lion and phoenix headsSahkulu (Turkish, active 1526–56), mid-1500s
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1944.492 · CC0 · source

Nine Dragon Pool — Nine Dragon PoolMei Qing (Chinese, 1623–1697), 1690s
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1979.50 · CC0 · source

Nine-Dragon Falls — Nine-Dragon FallsHan Unpyeong (Korean), late 1800s
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1915.215 · CC0 · source

Guardian Griffin — Guardian GriffinNorthern Italy, Emilia, 12th century, 1150–1175
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1928.861.1 · CC0 · source

The Sea Monster — The Sea MonsterAlbrecht Dürer (German, 1471–1528), c. 1501
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1934.340 · CC0 · source

The Temptation of St. Anthony — The Temptation of St. AnthonyMartin Schongauer (German, c. 1450–1491), 1470–75
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1923.227 · CC0 · source

And All Manner of Frightful Creatures Arise — And All Manner of Frightful Creatures AriseOdilon Redon (French, 1840–1916), 1888
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1927.477.9 · CC0 · source

The Chimera with Green Eyes Turns, Bays — The Chimera with Green Eyes Turns, BaysOdilon Redon (French, 1840–1916), 1888
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1927.477.8 · CC0 · source

The Four Horsemen, from The Apocalypse — The Four Horsemen, from The ApocalypseAlbrecht Dürer (German, 1471–1528), c. 1498
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1932.313 · CC0 · source

The Apocalypse: Saint Michael and the Dragon — The Apocalypse: Saint Michael and the DragonJean Duvet (French, 1485–1561), 1546–56
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1953.213.18 · CC0 · source

The Archangel Michael Piercing the Dragon — The Archangel Michael Piercing the DragonMartin Schongauer (German, c. 1450–1491), c. 1475
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1952.99 · CC0 · source

Revelation of St. John: St. Michael fighting the Dragon — Revelation of St. John: St. Michael fighting the DragonAlbrecht Dürer (German, 1471–1528), 1511
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1922.94.13 · CC0 · source

Ghost and Oil Lamp — Ghost and Oil LampTani Bun'ichi (Japanese, 1787–1818), 1810
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1992.71 · CC0 · source

Zhong Kui Supported by Ghosts — Zhong Kui Supported by GhostsLuo Ping (Chinese, 1733–1799), 1700s
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1959.185 · CC0 · source

Winged Chimera (Bixie) — Winged Chimera (Bixie)China, Southern and Northern Dynasties period (386–589 CE), 400s CE
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1980.184 · CC0 · source

Melencolia I — Melencolia IAlbrecht Dürer (German, 1471–1528), 1514
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1926.211 · CC0 · source

Panel from a Triptych: The Archangel Michael — Panel from a Triptych: The Archangel MichaelFra Filippo Lippi (Italian, c. 1406–1469), 1458
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1964.150.1 · CC0 · source

Lion Dog — Lion DogChina, Song dynasty (960-1279) - Yuan dynasty (1271-1368), 13th - 14th century
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1970.135 · CC0 · source

Jar with Dragon and Clouds Design — Jar with Dragon and Clouds DesignKorea, Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), late 1600s
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1986.69 · CC0 · source

Plate with Relief Dragon among Clouds — Plate with Relief Dragon among CloudsChina, Zhejiang province, Longquan region, Yuan dynasty (1271-1368), 1300s
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1961.92 · CC0 · source

Dragon and Tiger — Dragon and TigerSesson Shūkei (Japanese, c. 1492–c. 1577), c. 1546–56
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1959.136 · CC0 · source

Mirror with a Coiling Dragon — Mirror with a Coiling DragonChina, Tang dynasty (618-907), 700s
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1995.367 · CC0 · source

Guardian Griffin (pair) — Guardian Griffin (pair)Northern Italy, Emilia, 12th century, 1150–1175
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1928.861 · CC0 · source

Seal with Unicorn and Inscription — Seal with Unicorn and InscriptionPakistan, Indus Valley civilization, c. 2000 BCE
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1964.104 · CC0 · source

Container in the Form of a Unicorn — Container in the Form of a UnicornChina, Qing dynasty (1644-1911), Qianlong mark and reign (1736-95), 1736–95
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1963.678 · CC0 · source

Textile Ornaments(?): Pair of Phoenixes — Textile Ornaments(?): Pair of PhoenixesChina, Tang dynasty (618-907), c. 700s
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1942.1083 · CC0 · source

Demon in chains — Demon in chainsMuhammad Siya Qalam (Iranian), c. 1453
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1982.63 · CC0 · source

Demon Intoning the Name of the Buddha — Demon Intoning the Name of the BuddhaJapan, Edo period (1615–1868), 1700s
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1982.26 · CC0 · source

Demon Intoning the Name of the Buddha — Demon Intoning the Name of the BuddhaSuzuki Shōnen (Japanese, 1849–1918), late 1800s–early 1900s
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1991.77 · CC0 · source

Octafoil-shaped Mirror Featuring Ci Fei, the Dragon Slayer — Octafoil-shaped Mirror Featuring Ci Fei, the Dragon SlayerChina, Jin dynasty (1115-1234) or Korea, Goryeo dynasty (918-1392), 900s–1300s
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1995.376 · CC0 · source

Monster Face: Door Ring Holder (Pushou) — Monster Face: Door Ring Holder (Pushou)China, Henan province, Northern Dynasties period (386–581 CE), 500s
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1930.731 · CC0 · source

Everywhere Eyeballs are Aflame — Everywhere Eyeballs are AflameOdilon Redon (French, 1840–1916), 1888
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1927.477.10 · CC0 · source

And a Large Bird, Descending from the Sky, Hurls Itself against the Topmost Point of Her Hair — And a Large Bird, Descending from the Sky, Hurls Itself against the Topmost Point of Her HairOdilon Redon (French, 1840–1916), 1888
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1927.477.4 · CC0 · source

It Is the Devil, Bearing Beneath His Two Wings the Seven Deadly Sins — It Is the Devil, Bearing Beneath His Two Wings the Seven Deadly SinsOdilon Redon (French, 1840–1916), 1888
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1927.477.3 · CC0 · source

Miniature from a Manuscript of the Apocalypse: The Woman Clothed with the Sun and The War in Heaven — Miniature from a Manuscript of the Apocalypse: The Woman Clothed with the Sun and The War in HeavenFrance, Lorraine, c. 1295
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1983.73.2 · CC0 · source

Miniature from a Manuscript of the Apocalypse: The War in Heaven — Miniature from a Manuscript of the Apocalypse: The War in HeavenFrance, Lorraine, c. 1295
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1983.73.2.b · CC0 · source

And His Name That Sat on Him Was Death — And His Name That Sat on Him Was DeathOdilon Redon (French, 1840–1916), 1899
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1926.140.3 · CC0 · source

Tengu Travelling as a Priest — Tengu Travelling as a PriestJapan, Edo period (1615–1868), early to mid-1800s
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1920.493 · CC0 · source

Candlestand in the Shape of a Chimera Bixie — Candlestand in the Shape of a Chimera BixieChina, Western Jin dynasty (265-316 CE), 265–316 CE
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1983.77 · CC0 · source

The Chimera Gazed at All Things with Fear — The Chimera Gazed at All Things with FearOdilon Redon (French, 1840–1916), 1886
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1926.277 · CC0 · source

The Wingless Chimera — The Wingless ChimeraDavid Young Cameron (British, 1865–1945), 1911
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1940.843 · CC0 · source

Saint Michael — Saint MichaelMaster ES (German, active 1450–67), 1450–67
The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1948.457 · CC0 · source

All images: The Cleveland Museum of Art Open Access, released under Creative Commons Zero (CC0 1.0). Object details from the CMA Open Access API. Credit is given as a courtesy; the museum does not endorse this site.