伝狩野永徳筆　唐美人図|Chinese Women in a Palace Garden

Kano Eitoku

late 16th century · Two panels of a folding screen, mounted as a hanging scroll; ink, color, gold, and gold leaf on paper · Asian Art

In this painting, a vivacious scene of Chinese court life, the grace of the palace beauties is accentuated by their poses, especially that of the woman in the center, who slightly twists her body to admire a bluebird perched on the hand of a lady-in-waiting. The palace architecture, a Taihu rock, blossoming cherry and pear trees, and Chinese roses enrich the sense of exotic palace life. The meticulous brushwork of the draperies and the solid texture of the rock indicate a Kano painter of the Momoyama period, one who might have worked closely with Mitsunobu, the eldest son of the great master Kano Eitoku. Formerly the two left panels of an eight-panel screen, they were remounted as a hanging scroll, since the two panels were the works of another artist.

Artist

Kano Eitoku

Date

late 16th century

Medium

Two panels of a folding screen, mounted as a hanging scroll; ink, color, gold, and gold leaf on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929