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Chinese Women in a Palace Garden

Formerly attributed to Kano Eitoku Japanese
late 16th century
Not on view
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.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 伝狩野永徳筆 唐美人図
  • Title: Chinese Women in a Palace Garden
  • Artist: Formerly attributed to Kano Eitoku (Japanese, 1543–1590)
  • Period: Momoyama period (1573–1615)
  • Date: late 16th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Two panels of a folding screen, mounted as a hanging scroll; ink, color, gold, and gold leaf on paper
  • Dimensions: 61 1/8 x 45 1/2 in. (155.3 x 115.6 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
  • Object Number: 29.100.495g, h
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
Chinese Women and Children in a Palace Garden, Kano Eitoku  Japanese, Six-panel folding screen; ink, color, gold, and gold leaf on paper, Japan
Formerly attributed to Kano Eitoku
first half 17th century
Armor (<i>Gusoku</i>), Saotome Ietada  Japanese, Iron, lacquer, silk, gilt copper, Japanese
Armorer Helmet bowl signed Saotome Ietada
Armorer Breastplate inscribed inside, Myōchin Munesuke
16th and 18th centuries
Peonies, Fukae Roshū 深江蘆舟  Japanese, Panel of a folding screen remounted as a hanging scroll; ink, color and gold on paper, Japan
Fukae Roshū 深江蘆舟
early to mid-18th century
Helmet (<i>Zukinnari Kabuto</i>), Iron, lacquer, Japanese
Japanese
16th century
The Thirty-Six Poetic Immortals, Studio of Kano Takanobu  Japanese, Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink, color, gold, and silver on paper, Japan
Painting by Studio of Kano Takanobu
Inscriptions by Konoe Nobutada
early 17th century

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