Peonies and Butterfly

Object Details

• Artist

  Sakai Hoitsu 酒井抱一 (1761-1828)

• Calligrapher

  Kameda Ryorai (1778-1853)

• Label

  Hoitsu's luxuriant rendering of early summer peonies is complemented by Chinese verse, which is itself replete with allusions to the role of the peony in the Tang dynasty (618-907) court.

  A decorated balustrade keeps out the morning chill,

  As if one were looking from the Aloeswood Pavilion.

  As spring arrives, who is the overseer of the blossoms:

  The peony, it is, who commands the fragrant throng.

  Written by Feng Qi (1559-603), a scholar official of the late Ming dynasty (1368–1644), the poem refers to the peonies given to Prime Minister Yang Guozhong (died 756) by the Emperor Xuanzong (reigned 712-56). Within the Prime Minister's collection, crimson, white, and pink blossoms were considered the rarest; these are the very colors depicted by Hoitsu. Poems of the Tang dynasty also compare the voluptuous beauty of the emperor's mistress, Lady Yang (719-756), to the peony.

  The careful union of image and text in this painting points out the high level of appreciation for Chinese classical literature in Hoitsu's circle. Kameda Ryorai, who transcribed the poem, was the son of Kameda Bosai (1752-1862) a distinguished Confucian scholar, painter, and calligrapher.

  After sampling and mastering a wide range of current painting styles, Hoitsu returned to the treasures in his own household--works by Ogata Korin (1658-1716) commissioned by the artist's family in the early eighteenth century--and chose to celebrate and adapt the Korin style.

  Translation by Stephen D. Allee

• Provenance

  By 1973-1974

  Yoichi Nakajima, Tokyo, Japan, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  From 1974

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Yoichi Nakajima, Tokyo, Japan [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See object file for copy of letter from H. P. Stern to Nakajima Yoichi, dated October 3, 1973. In acknowledging the offer of the painting as a gift, Stern wrote, “I hope you will excuse me for having taken so long to write you about the Hōitsu

  painting of peonies that you presented to the Freer Gallery in April of this year.” Nakajima Yoichi is

  a master weaver and conserver, specializing in the reconstruction of historic silk brocades.

  [2] See note 1. See object file for follow-up letter from H. P. Stern to Nakajima Yoichi, dated July 12, 1974. Stern wrote, “I do not know quite how to express my great appreciation for your kindness in presenting to the Freer Gallery the painting of peonies and butterflies by “Hoitsu.” See also in object file copies of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution and the Commission of Fine Arts examination statement, signed December 3, 1973 and November 20, 1973, respectively, for the object described as, “Japanese painting; Edo period; Rimpa school; by Hoitsu (1761-1828); peonies. Color on silk; hanging scroll.” Handwritten notations note that this object was held in the Freer vault as vault record no. V70.73, and that the object was a gift from Nakajima.

  Research updated October 17, 2023

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Rinpa: Creativity Across Time and Space (October 1, 2022 to April 2, 2023)

  Bold and Beautiful: Rinpa in Japanese Art (June 28, 2015 to January 3, 2016)

  Japanese Arts in the Edo Period: 1615-1868, part 2 (March 8 to October 19, 2008)

  More Than Flowers: Sources of Tradition in Japanese Painting (September 2, 2001 to November 24, 2002)

  Japanese Art (May 9, 1993 to August 1, 1994)

  Japanese Art (November 7, 1986 to July 19, 1988)

  Japanese Ceramics (April 11, 1978 to January 17, 1980)

  Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons in Japanese Art (September 14, 1977 to April 8, 1978)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Nakajima Yoichi

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Mr. Yoichi Nakajima

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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• Name

  Yoichi, Nakajima

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Art, Animals, Insects, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Flowers, Butterflies, Kakemono

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings