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Vertical scene of two pairs of birds in various postures perched in flowering tree branches.

An old gnarly tree branch reaches out from lower left with delicate twigs of spring blossoms (plum) or cherry branching upward. A male and female pheasant perched on lower left, have red markings around their eyes, the male’s ornate plumage includes long tail feathers arcing to lower left. A smaller bird swoops in from upper right towards its mate perched on a blooming branch in upper center. Large white cupped flowers (camellias) adorn the thicker branches. A few similar large red blooms intermingle with other branches in middle left, just above the female pheasant. Minimal background of paper’s surface.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
2017.227
People
Attributed to Kano Sanraku 狩野山楽, Japanese (1559 - 1635)
Title
Plum Tree, Camellias, and Pheasants
Classification
Paintings
Work Type
painting, hanging scroll
Date
mid-17th century
Places
Creation Place: East Asia, Japan
Period
Edo period, 1615-1868
Culture
Japanese
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/340536

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper.
Dimensions
painting proper: H. 130.3 × W. 59.1 cm (51 5/16 × 23 1/4 in.)
overall mounting, including roller ends and suspension cord: H. 227.5 × W. 76 cm (89 9/16 × 29 15/16 in.)
Inscriptions and Marks
  • seal: square, relief, after original: 光頼 [Mitsuyori]

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
[YANAGI, Takashi, Kyoto (by 1980)], sold; to Robert and Betsy Feinberg, Bethesda, MD (1980-2017), gift; to Harvard Art Museums.

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Robert S. and Betsy G. Feinberg
Accession Year
2017
Object Number
2017.227
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
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Publication History

  • Jidai kacho, Kyoto Shoin (Kyoto, Japan, 1977), plate #108, p. 217.
  • Rachel Saunders, ed., Catalogue of the Feinberg Collection of Japanese Art, brochure, Harvard Art Museums (Cambridge, 2021), pp. 178-179, cat. 179

Exhibition History

  • 32Q: 2600 East Asian, Japanese, Chinese and Korean, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 12/07/2017 - 06/01/2018; Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 12/04/2023 - 06/03/2024

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu