Landscapes, flowers, and trees of the four seasons

Object Details

• Artist

  Kano Motonobu (1476-1559)

• Provenance

  From at least 1903-at least 1935

  Prince Motoaki Mōri (1865-1938), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  About 1935-1955

  The object’s ownership and whereabouts are unknown

  By at least 1955

  Far Eastern Art, New York, method of acquisition unknown [2]

  From 1955

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Far Eastern Art, New York [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See S. Tajima, ed., "Shinbi taikan” (Selected relics of Japanese art) [book] (Kyōto: Nippon Bukkyō Shinbi Kyōkai, 1903), vol. 9, pl. 22. See also Robert J. Paine, Jr., “Hsia Kuei and Motonobu,” “Revue des Arts Asiatiques” vol. 9, no. 3, (September 1935): p. 154, fig. 1-4. Motoaki Mōri was a Japanese nobleman, a Duke under the Kazoku system. He was the son of Motonori Mōri (1839-1896), who was a member of the House of Peers.

  [2] See July 11, 1955, letter from H. Elise Buckman to Roland Koscherak, “Mr. Wenley has asked me to notify you that the pair of Motonobu screens, scenes of the four seasons, arrived this afternoon in good condition,” copy in object file. See also note 3. Roland Koscherak (1899-1987), was the owner of the gallery Far Eastern Art, where he sold Japanese and Himalayan art. [3] See Roland Koscherak – Far Eastern Art invoice to Freer Gallery of Art, dated September 9, 1955, and marked approved by the Secretary on September 15, 1955, in object file.

  Research updated March 29, 2023

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Life of a Japanese Painting (December 1, 1995 to October 16, 1996)

  Japanese Art (April 11, 1978 to March 6, 1981)

  Japanese Art (July 1, 1974 to April 10, 1978)

  Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 1 and 2 (February 25, 1956 to January 1, 1963)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Prince Motoaki Mori (1865-1938)

  Roland Koscherak (1899-1987)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1500s, 1550s

• Name

  Koscherak, Roland, Mori, Motoaki

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Landscapes, Art, Muromachi period (1333 - 1573), Japanese Art, Flowers, Seasons

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings