two branches at R with small bird perched near C

Sparrow on Bamboo in the Rain, 15th century

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This simple painting of a single sparrow resting on a shoot of bamboo in the rain was treasured in Japan for more than five hundred years. Over time, it accumulated numerous storage boxes, wrappings, and documents. In this gallery, you can explore the painting and its history through these accumulated objects.

In medieval Japan, the Zen monk-painter Muqi Fachang (c. 1210–after 1269) was the most beloved of all Chinese artists. Japanese Zen monks visiting China met or heard of Muqi, acquired his paintings, and brought them back home to Japan. Within a few decades, the foremost Japanese art collections all contained paintings purported to be by Muqi, although many of them were probably not by Muqi himself. But this did not seem to matter. In Japan, “Muqi pictures”—some by Muqi, others in his style—were in high demand as luxury items, and numerous Japanese painters mastered Muqi-style painting and Muqi-specific subject matter. “Muqi pictures” like this one were also sought after for display during tea ceremonies.

One of the most famous of these “Muqi pictures” showed sparrows huddled together on a bamboo shoot during rain. That painting made its way into medieval Japan’s most famous collection of Chinese art—that of the Ashikaga shoguns (Japan’s military leaders). It undoubtedly inspired this image of a sparrow on bamboo. Although it was not painted by Muqi himself, it was treasured for generations as a “Muqi picture,” as evidenced by its many boxes, wrappers, and documents, all displayed here.

Details
Title
Sparrow on Bamboo in the Rain
Artist Life
c. 1210 - after 1269
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2015.79.55
Provenance
Entered Tsuchiya family collection in 1709 according to a record made in 1846 of the family inventory. Former owner was Tsunenori no In (Tokugawa Tsuneyoshi). Outer box claims that this is the sparrow painting formerly in the collection of the Shogun Yoshimasa which is listed in the Ganka Meibutsu of 1660 as belonging to Abe Bitchu. This is the distinction also claimed by the "Bamboo and Sparrows" painting in the Nezu Museum known by its seal to have been in Yoshimasa's collection. Muraguchi Shirō until June, 1983 Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation
Catalogue Raisonne
Murase, Art through a Lifetime, no. 118
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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two branches at R with small bird perched near C