Drawing, Study for "The Mermaid Window," A.H. Barney Residence, New York, NY

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Object Timeline

-0001	We photographed this object.
1955	We acquired this object.
1991	We exhibited this object.
2007	We photographed this object.
2008	We exhibited this object.
2016	We photographed this object.
2024	You found it!

Drawing, Study for "The Mermaid Window," A.H. Barney Residence, New York, NY

This is a Drawing. It was created by Elihu Vedder and manufactured by Tiffany and Co. and made for (as the client) Ashbel Holmes Barney. It is dated 1882 and we acquired it in 1955. Its medium is pastel crayon, brush and wash on wove paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

This object was donated by The American Academy of Arts & Letters. It is credited Gift of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

A sepia-toned photographic image of a house and gardens, on cream-colored paper. In the foreground, on the left, is a large, raised round pool with an irregular, craggy rock at its center. To the right is a line of shrubs or trees in square planters. The plants cast dappled shadows on the ground and pool wall. Behind the rock pool is a grotto built of irregular stones, topped with a long dragon sculpture, its back arched over the seating area. A grove of spiky palm trees surrounds the grotto, against leafy trees further in the background. Beyond, to the right, is a flight of steps leading up to a terrace and massive geometric house. Much of the house is obscured by the garden plants. The house appears to be brick, with a second story band of windows beneath a curved-edge roof. An octagonal tower with oval-shaped windows rises up from the left of the house.

Book, The Art Work of Louis C. Tiffany
lithograph on paper.
Sarah and Eleanor Hewitt, former owners, Smithsonian Libraries, N6537 .T5A78....
139.2018.4

Its dimensions are

18.6 x 5.2 cm (7 5/16 x 2 1/16 in.)

It is signed

Signed in pastel crayon, lower center: Copyright 1887 By E. VEDDER

Cite this object as

Drawing, Study for "The Mermaid Window," A.H. Barney Residence, New York, NY; Elihu Vedder (American, 1836 – 1923); Manufactured by Tiffany and Co. (United States); Client: Ashbel Holmes Barney (American, 1816 - 1886); USA; pastel crayon, brush and wash on wove paper; 18.6 x 5.2 cm (7 5/16 x 2 1/16 in.); Gift of the American Academy of Arts and Letters; 1955-38-2-c

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibitions Rococo: The Continuing Curve 1730-2008 and The Cooper-Hewitt Collections: A Design Resource.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2CjZ8/
Accession Number 1955-38-2-c
Object ID 18404393