Pair of Phoenixes and Rising Sun

Pair of Phoenixes and Rising Sun

Pair of Phoenixes and Rising Sun is not a painting in the Colorful Realm of Living Beings set. Painted right before the Colorful Realm, Pair of Phoenixes and Rising Sun has a setting that is much more ornate and detailed than later paintings by Jakuchū. The phoenixes are multicolored, wiht white grey, brown, and red. Their feathers are dappled and their manes thick. The phoenixes perch on rough grey rocks surrounded by crashing grey and blue waves. The cliffs are interspersed with bamboo sprouts. Depth is implied with the receding waves painted in the background. This painting is also one of few of Jakuchū's compositions with clearly defined, black clouds. All of these elements of atmosphere create a dynamic, energetic composition. 

Itō Jakuchū, 伊藤 若冲

Colorful Realm of Living Beings, Museum of Imperial Collections, Tokyo, Japan

http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb.html National Gallery of Art, D.C, http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-event/sannomaru02.html Museum of Imperial Collections, Tokyo, Japan.

c. 1755

public domain

Colorful Realm of Living Beings

painted hanging scroll

Japanese