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Object Timeline

1901

  • We acquired this object.

2011

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2014

2023

  • You found it!

Drawing, Ceiling Design Depicting Iris and the Rainbow

This is a Drawing. It was designed by Felice Giani. It is dated 1810–25 and we acquired it in 1901. Its medium is pen and brown ink, brush and watercolor on off-white laid paper. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

Giani specialized in decorative ensembles for northern and central Italian homes. Iris, goddess of the rainbow, would be an ideal subject for a ceiling. This sheet was likely presented to a client for approval before the concept was transferred to a painted surface.

This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled Iris and the Rainbow.

It is credited Museum purchase through gift of various donors.

  • Mural, Dutch Clouds
  • digital print on cellulose, latex, nylon substrate.
  • Gift of Maharam.
  • 2012-11-2-1/5

Our curators have highlighted 3 objects that are related to this one.

  • Sidewall (USA)
  • machine-printed paper.
  • Gift of Philadelphia Museum of Art.
  • 1971-58-8-a,b
  • Frieze, Serpentine
  • hand-folded and dyed japanese paper.
  • Gift of Barbara White.
  • 2000-64-43

Its dimensions are

33.5 x 30.8 cm (13 3/16 x 12 1/8 in.) Mat: 32.5 x 29.8 cm (12 13/16 x 11 3/4 in.) Frame H x W x D: 39.7 x 50.2 x 2.5 cm (15 5/8 in. x 19 3/4 in. x 1 in.)

It is inscribed

Inscribed in pen and brown ink, lower margin, center: Iride Arcobaleno.

Cite this object as

Drawing, Ceiling Design Depicting Iris and the Rainbow; Designed by Felice Giani (Italian, 1758–1823); Italy; pen and brown ink, brush and watercolor on off-white laid paper; 33.5 x 30.8 cm (13 3/16 x 12 1/8 in.) Mat: 32.5 x 29.8 cm (12 13/16 x 11 3/4 in.) Frame H x W x D: 39.7 x 50.2 x 2.5 cm (15 5/8 in. x 19 3/4 in. x 1 in.); Museum purchase through gift of various donors; 1901-39-1807

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Hewitt Sisters Collect.

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If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://www-6.collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/18111691/ |title=Drawing, Ceiling Design Depicting Iris and the Rainbow |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=4 June 2023 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>