Old Pine Tree and White Peacock
Title
Old Pine Tree and White Peacock
Description
Although not native to Japan, peacocks were popular motifs in Buddhist art. They were associated with prosperity and culture as well as the Buddhist Peacock King, Mahamayuri. They were considered Chinese birds. Peonies shared these noble reputations, associated with royalty and Chinese-ness. Old Pine Tree and White Peacock depicts a regal white peacock perched in a pine tree surrounded by massive blossoming red, white, and pink peonies. Like many of Jakuchū's composition, this hanging scroll is painted on both sides. This technique allows artists to layer multiple colors, achieving unique depth in their composition. This composition is also notable for its use of gold pigment. Jakuchū rarely used gold paints, for he considered them too matte. However, he chose to delineate the peacock's white feathers with gold pigment.
Creator
Itō Jakuchū (伊藤 若冲)
Source
Colorful Realm of Living Beings
Publisher
Yukio Lippit
Date
c. 1759–1761
Contributor
Yukio Lippit
Rights
public domain
Format
painted hanging scroll
Language
Japanese
- Date Added
- May 26, 2015
- Collection
- Momoyama and Edo Period Items
- Item Type
- Still Image
- Tags
- Edo
- Citation
- Itō Jakuchū (伊藤 若冲), “Old Pine Tree and White Peacock,” Japanese Phoenixes between the Momoyama (1568 - 1603) and Edo Periods (1603 - 1868), accessed May 14, 2024, https://lsnowdonarthist.omeka.net/items/show/34.