Narihira Riding Below Fuji, c. 1820
Sakai Hōitsuexpand_more
Ink and color on silkexpand_more
Bequest of Richard P. Galeexpand_more 74.1.252
Not on Viewexpand_more
Sakai Hōitsu was the son of the Lord of Himeiji. After mastering several painting styles, he became interested in the decorative Rinpa school, named after one of its greatest masters, Ogata Korin. Searching out remaining works by Korin, who had died forty-five years before Hōitsu's birth, he published a woodblock book of Korin's works. This painting, with its classical theme, softly rounded forms and beautiful colors, continues the style championed by Korin.
The painting illustrates Ariwara Narihira (825-80), the famously handsome ninth century poet who, it is said, was banished from court for having an affair with an imperial consort. While traveling to his exile in the deep north, Narihira passed beneath Mount Fuji, cloaked in newly fallen snow. Noting the strangeness of snow so close to summer, Narihira composed the following poem:
Fuji is a mountain
that has no sense of time.
What season does it take this for
That it should be dappled with newly fallen snow'
Details
- Title
- Narihira Riding Below Fuji
- Artist Life
- 1761 - 1828
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 74.1.252
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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