| Home Page |

Peacock

( 2 Panel Screen )

	Object Type	18th Century Japanese Screen Two Panel
	Artist	Rosetsu
	Period	Edo (18th century)
	Materials	Gold Paint, Powder,and Color on Paper
	Creation Date	1781
	Dimensions	166.9 cm. x 184.6 cm. (65 3/4 in. x 72 5/8 in.)

Commentary

This is possibly Rosetsu's first painting. Painted when Rosetsu was twenty-eight, it is a direct copy of one of his master's paintings, now designated a National Treasure. Here Rosetsu changed the coloring and placement of the flowers and added moss to the rocks. This painting makes a marvelous comparison piece to the "Bull and Elephant" screen. This one was produced under strict supervision of his master, Okyo, and the other screens were made after his talent was turned loose and his imagination released. It is most contradictory to Americans that an artist trained only through copying can eventually become so original. Rosetsu is possibly Japan's greatest artist. He died at such an early age. Imagine if Hokusai and Jakuchu had died at forty-four, would anyone even know their names today? Conversely, what extraordinary heights would Rosetsu have achieved had he lived into his eighties? - JDP Nagasawa Rosetsu (1754-1799) was adopted by the Nagasawa family in order for him to become an artist. He was a low ranking samurai. He went to Kyoto and studied under Maruyama Okyo. By twenty-four, he was a recognized artist among the Maruyama school. By twenty-nine he was listed in Heian jinbutsu shi (Who is who in Kyoto). During the same year he went to the Nanki area for Okyo and painted numerous screen paintings for the temples, such as Muryoji, Sodoji, and Jojuji. This is the time when he developed his own style. At thirty-seven in 1790 he was chosen to paint the screen doors for the Imperial Palace. After that he painted Monkeys at Daijoji, establishing his unique style. He died at forty-six in Osaka. The speculation on his cause of death was as colorful as his life. Some say he was poisoned. He was one of the eccentric artists who left the Okyo school and developed his own style. This Peacock and Peonies is the copy of Okyo's work at the Enman-in. It is a faithful copy of the original, although Rosetsu excluded the male peacock from the original. At the right side he wrote "I, Rosetsu, painted in the late summer in 1782" and placed a square seal of the "Rosetsu" in red letters. This was the year that his name was listed in Who's who in Kyoto. (Kono)