Painting: View of Iranistan from southeast vantage point
Unknown creator, American (created by)
1848 – 1857 (Date manufactured/created)
Brown pen and ink; watercolor
watercolor, brown pen, ink
Watercolor painting depicting the P. T. Barnum family's first mansion in Connecticut, an "oriental villa" called Iranistan. The painting is in its original gilded frame and was likely made in the late 1840s or circa 1850, soon after the home was built. It is not signed by the artist. Iranistan was located on seventeen acres of land on the eastern border of the town of Fairfield, Connecticut, an area that was later annexed by the City of Bridgeport. The mansion was built in 1847-1848, soon after Barnum's return from a three-year tour of Europe during which he made a lot of money. The design closely mirrors the Royal Pavilion in Brighton, England, an exotic palace that Barnum admired and wished to replicate on a smaller scale as his "country home" outside of New York City. Iranistan was designed in the Moorish revival style by architect Leopold Eidlitz, and cost $100,000. No other building in this style existed at that time in America.
The Barnums held a house-warming party in November of 1848, and according to news reports, 1000 people attended. Following up on the event, news magazines described the elaborate decor and layout of the home. (Barnum had purchased many decorative arts items and artwork while in Europe.) Sadly, no photographs of Iranistan are known to exist. This painting and its companion scene (see 2006.005.003), as well as a color lithograph (print) and an engraving are likely the only contemporary views of the home. The companion watercolor presents a view from a more easterly vantage, thus the two views give a good sense, though not complete, of the elegant surroundings. The grounds were landscaped with a variety of plantings, fountains and statuary, and a half circle driveway. In a letter from 1846 to his wife Charity discussing plans for the home, Barnum sketched the driveway he wished to have; a portion of the half circle is clearly seen in this painting, leading to the front entrance, where a carriage appears to be just leaving the home. Two female figures are depicted at the top of the steps, and three figures are visible near the fountain on the front lawn; more figures can be seen in the distance. At the far left, a portion of the wrought iron fence alongside Fairfield Avenue is visible. The grounds also featured a number of elaborate "outbuildings," including a greenhouse or conservatory, carriage house and stables, and a pump house that was built to enable water to be pumped into the house, an unusual luxury at that time. Portions of the outbuildings can be seen in the companion watercolor.
The Barnums held a house-warming party in November of 1848, and according to news reports, 1000 people attended. Following up on the event, news magazines described the elaborate decor and layout of the home. (Barnum had purchased many decorative arts items and artwork while in Europe.) Sadly, no photographs of Iranistan are known to exist. This painting and its companion scene (see 2006.005.003), as well as a color lithograph (print) and an engraving are likely the only contemporary views of the home. The companion watercolor presents a view from a more easterly vantage, thus the two views give a good sense, though not complete, of the elegant surroundings. The grounds were landscaped with a variety of plantings, fountains and statuary, and a half circle driveway. In a letter from 1846 to his wife Charity discussing plans for the home, Barnum sketched the driveway he wished to have; a portion of the half circle is clearly seen in this painting, leading to the front entrance, where a carriage appears to be just leaving the home. Two female figures are depicted at the top of the steps, and three figures are visible near the fountain on the front lawn; more figures can be seen in the distance. At the far left, a portion of the wrought iron fence alongside Fairfield Avenue is visible. The grounds also featured a number of elaborate "outbuildings," including a greenhouse or conservatory, carriage house and stables, and a pump house that was built to enable water to be pumped into the house, an unusual luxury at that time. Portions of the outbuildings can be seen in the companion watercolor.
Iranistan was the Barnum family's home until December of 1857 when it burned. The fire is believed to have been caused by smoldering ashes from a workman's pipe. The family was not living in the house at the time, as the work was being done, and the fire erupted in the middle of the night. A call went out and household items and artwork was saved but by morning, only remains of the home such as the chimneys were left. Barnum built a new home, not on the same site, but further to the west on Fairfield Avenue.
1996.009.001