Album of twenty-four paintings

Maker(s)
Artist: School of Kano Tan'yū 狩野探幽 (1602-1674)
Historical period(s)
Edo period, 17th century
Medium
Ink, color, and gold on paper
Dimensions
H x W (each image): 12.5 x 14.4 cm (4 15/16 x 5 11/16 in)
Geography
Japan
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1904.119
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Album, Painting
Type

Album

Keywords
Edo period (1615 - 1868), gafu, Japan, The Tale of Genji
Provenance

To 1904
Michael Tomkinson (1841-1921), Kidderminster, England, to 1904 [1]

From 1904 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Michael Tomkinson in 1904 [2]

From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

Notes:

[1] See Original Books and Albums List, S.I. 1, pg. 24, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

[2] See note 1.

[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Michael Tomkinson (C.L. Freer source) 1841-1921
Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919

Label

These paintings come from a small album of paintings that alternates themes from Japanese and Chinese literature with studies from nature. The paintings are executed in a style that combines the expressive brushwork characteristic of Chinese ink painting with the precise linear detail and delicate coloration that was practiced by Japanese court artists. The painter Kano Tan'yu established himself and his descendants as versatile professional artists whose work influenced Japanese artists of the Kano and other schools.

Published References
  • Robert Garfias, Lincoln Kirstein. Gagaku: The Music and Dances of the Japanese Imperial Household. New York. opp. foreward.
  • Zaigai hiho [(Japanese Paintings in Western Collections]. 3 vols., Tokyo. vol. 1: pt. II, p. 53.
Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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