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Peacock and Peonies

Maruyama Ōkyo 円山応挙 Japanese

1768

Not on view

A peacock with fanning tail feathers glances over its shoulder. The inscribed date, 1768, indicates that Ōkyo painted this work when he was only 36, a time when the artist was able to immerse himself both in the study of ancient paintings and in sketching plants and animals from life. Numerous albums filled with these drawings remain today.

The result of these studies can be seen here in the incredibly careful brushwork used to apply the brilliant colors of the peacock’s feathers, the pale blue colors of the Chinese-style rocks, and the delicate hues of the peonies. Ōkyo has produced a stunning decorative image without particular concern for spatial depth. Perfecting shasei (drawing from nature) remained a lifelong pursuit for the artist.

Peacock and Peonies, Maruyama Ōkyo 円山応挙 (Japanese, 1733–1795), Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold paint on silk, Japan — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Peacock and Peonies, Maruyama Ōkyo 円山応挙 (Japanese, 1733–1795), Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold paint on silk, Japan

Peacock and Peonies, Maruyama Ōkyo 円山応挙 (Japanese, 1733–1795), Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold paint on silk, Japan

Peacock and Peonies, Maruyama Ōkyo 円山応挙 (Japanese, 1733–1795), Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold paint on silk, Japan

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Peacock and Peonies

Artist: Maruyama Ōkyo 円山応挙 (Japanese, 1733–1795)

Period: Edo period (1615–1868)

Date: 1768

Culture: Japan

Medium: Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold paint on silk

Dimensions: Image: 53 1/8 × 27 13/16 in. (135 × 70.6 cm)
Overall with mounting: 81 1/2 × 32 3/4 in. (207 × 83.2 cm)

Classification: Paintings

Credit Line: Lent by Feinberg Collection

The Met

Asian Art at The Met

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world.