morning glory vines stretching and winding from LL up and over to UR; scattered blue blossoms; swallowtail butterfly in lower center

Morning Glory, early 19th century

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In Japan, morning glories are called asagao, or “face of the morning,” in reference to the fleeting beauty of a woman’s face in the morning. The plant was originally brought to Japan from China as medicine, but the beauty of their blooms soon captivated aristocrats, who wrote poems about the flower. In the 1800s, morning glories became popular among casual and professional gardeners who actively bred them for natural mutations.

Watanabe Nangaku studied painting under Maruyama Ōkyo, who was interested in the study of and depiction of nature. Here, he shows the morning glory from shifting angles and the subtle differences in color of the vines.

Details
Title
Morning Glory
Artist Life
1767 - 1831
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2013.31.5
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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morning glory vines stretching and winding from LL up and over to UR; scattered blue blossoms; swallowtail butterfly in lower center