brightly colored images of 18 figures riding waves on various sea creatures; each holding an instrument or tool

Eighteen Rakan, 19th century

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This long handscroll features a ragtag crew of misfits, some riding turtles or catfish, and often with quite unkempt appearances. They are the devout and miraculous, but eccentric followers of the Buddha known as Rakan (or Arhat in Sanskrit). This work was painted in the tradition of the late Ming-dynasty Chinese painter Wu Bin (ca. 1550–1621), whose works or those of his followers might have found their way to Nagasaki, where local painters took up Wu’s archaic figural style.

Details
Title
Eighteen Rakan
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2015.79.190
Provenance
Hekiko Sōdō Richard Lane until December, 1965 Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation
Catalogue Raisonne
Murase, Art through a Lifetime, no. 448
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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brightly colored images of 18 figures riding waves on various sea creatures; each holding an instrument or tool