Sea monsters, mermaids, unicorns, dragons and moonlit dreams from the Smithsonian's Cooper Hewitt Design Museum and American Art Museum.
DragonsUnidentified maker, mid 18th - early 19th century Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1968-117-398 · CC0 · sourceWall Decoration, Dragons, possibly for Music Room, Royal Pavilion, BrightonFrederick Crace, English, 1779–1859, 1815–22 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1948-40-24 · CC0 · sourceAbduction of Proserpine on a UnicornAlbrecht Dürer, German, 1471–1528, 1516 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1896-3-43 · CC0 · sourceThe Great Sea-SarpintFrederick Stuart Church, American, 1842–1924, 1878 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1938-57-1070-228 · CC0 · sourceThe MermaidFrederick Stuart Church, American, 1842–1924, 1877 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1938-57-1070-256 · CC0 · sourceDemon MaskGorham Manufacturing Company, Providence, Rhode Island, USA, founded 1818, 1884 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1982-23-1371 · CC0 · sourceMoon and Clouds, Terni, ItalyFrederic Edwin Church, American, 1826–1900, October 1, 1868 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1917-4-698 · CC0 · sourceSea Cintaur Combats Sea MonsterFelice Giani, Italian, 1758–1823, ca. 1805 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1901-39-498 · CC0 · sourceThe Sea MonsterAlbrecht Dürer, German, 1471–1528, ca. 1498 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1957-30-7 · CC0 · sourceLevitation in Dream No. 3Frederick J. Waugh, born Bordentown, NJ 1861-died Provincetown, MA 1940, 1921 Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1984.37 · CC0 · sourceMidsummer Night's DreamWilliam Ordway Partridge, born Paris, France 1861-died New York City 1930, 1892 Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2020.20.228 · CC0 · sourceThe Crazed ArtistFrançois-Nicolas Chifflart, French, 1825 - 1901, ca. 1860 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum · CC0 · sourceA luohan and a demon1368-1644 National Museum of Asian Art · CC0 · sourceLuohan and demonFormerly attributed to Guanxiu (傳)貫休 (822-912), 16th century National Museum of Asian Art · CC0 · sourceSakyamuni seated upon three demon-like creaturesFormerly attributed to Guanxiu (傳)貫休 (822-912), 14th-15th century National Museum of Asian Art · CC0 · sourceZhong Kui (Shoki) killing a demonAttributed to Katsushika Hokusai 葛飾北斎 (1760-1849), 1760-1868 National Museum of Asian Art · CC0 · sourceA Priest (Kōbō Daishi) practicing the Tantra, a demon before him, and a wolf behindKatsushika Hokusai 葛飾北斎 (1760-1849), 1760-1868 National Museum of Asian Art · CC0 · sourceExpelling demons from the houseFormerly attributed to Li Tang 李唐 (ca. 1050s-after 1130), 16th century National Museum of Asian Art · CC0 · sourceZhong Kui and demons crossing a bridgeAttributed to Dai Jin (1388-1462), 16th century National Museum of Asian Art · CC0 · sourceLes plaisirs de l'Isle enchantée1664 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum · CC0 · sourceIllustration for Hamlet: Hamlet Tries to Follow the Ghost of his Father (I,4)Eugène Delacroix, French, 1798 - 1863, 1835 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum · CC0 · sourceThe Witch's DaughterFrederick Stuart Church, Grand Rapids, MI 1842-New York City 1924, 1881 Smithsonian American Art Museum · CC0 · sourceLightning Struck a Flock of WitchesWilliam Holbrook Beard, born Painesville, OH 1824-died New York City 1900, ca. 1859-1896 Smithsonian American Art Museum · CC0 · sourceSaul and the Witch of EndorWilliam Sidney Mount, born Setauket, NY 1807-died Setauket, NY 1868, 1828 Smithsonian American Art Museum · CC0 · sourceThe Three Witches Appearing to MacbethJohn Trotter, British, active 1756 - 1792, 1790 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum · CC0 · sourceMoon Rising over the Porcupine Islands, Bar Harbor, MaineFrederic Edwin Church, American, 1826–1900, probably 1860 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum · CC0 · sourceMoon-LightJohn Sartain, American, 1808–1897, 1847 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum · CC0 · sourceDragon HeadUnidentified maker, late 19th century Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1982-23-1276 · CC0 · sourceMokugyo (Gong) with Dragon HeadsUnidentified maker, late 19th century Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1982-23-1224 · CC0 · sourceFrame with Helmet and DragonsFrançois de Cuvilliés the Elder, 1740–68 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1921-6-281-57 · CC0 · sourceGrinning demonUnidentified maker, 18th century Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1931-61-12 · CC0 · sourceOni DemonUnidentified maker, late 19th century Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1982-23-1349 · CC0 · sourceKneeling winged monsterChina, Northern Qi dynasty, 550-577 National Museum of Asian Art, F1916.345 · CC0 · sourceThree ships surrounded by monstersJan van der Straet, called Stradanus, ca. 1590 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1938-88-8408 · CC0 · sourceLovat’s Ghost on PilgrimageSamuel Ireland, 1794 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1949-152-100 · CC0 · sourceWhirligig with Witch and HorseCharlie Burnham, 1918 Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1986.65.377 · CC0 · sourceClayton’s AscentUnidentified maker, 1835–40 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1917-36-2-a,b · CC0 · sourceA GhostFrederick Stuart Church, 1877 Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1938-57-1070-258 · CC0 · sourceDemon HeadUnidentified maker, 1200–771 B.C. Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1929.8.280 · CC0 · source
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