Section of "Ananda's Perfect Memory," Chapter 45 of the Sutra of the Wise and Foolish

Object Details

• Provenance

  About 1986

  Likely London Gallery, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  By 1986-2013

  Sylvan Barnet (1926-2016) and William Burto (1921-2013) (owned jointly), likely purchased from London Gallery, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan [2]

  2013-2014

  Sylvan Barnet and National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, bequeathed by William Burto to the Smithsonian [3]

  From 2014

  National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, gift of Sylvan Barnet and William Burto [4]

  Notes:

  [1] See object file for copy of letter from Sylvan Barnet to Dr. John R. Krueger at Indiana University, Bloomington, dated August 6, 1986. Barnet wrote to Krueger requesting his assistance in understanding an issue with a translation of the object. Barnet wrote, “In Japan I recently acquired a fragment of calligraphy which is supposed to be from what the Japanese call the Kengu-kyō, i.e. The Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish.” See also a letter from Tajima Mitsuru at London Gallery, Ltd., to Barnet and William Burto, dated September 11, 1986. Tajima wrote, “Regarding to your letter dated on 5 August,” and he proceeds to supply information in answer to Barnet’s questions about the translation, noting his embarrassment that he had not previously supplied the translation to them. It is likely that Barnet and Burto acquired this object from London Gallery, Ltd., earlier in 1986 or on a trip shortly before, as noted by Barnet’s remarks to Dr. Krueger.

  Tajima Mitsuru (born ca. 1936) is a Japanese collector and art dealer who developed the London Gallery in Tokyo, Japan. Opened in the late 20th century, the gallery specializes in art and archaeological material of Asia. In 1963, at the age of twenty-seven, Tajima traveled to the United States and joined the collector and dealer Harry Packard on a cross-country trip, visiting museums and collectors, including Avery Brundage.

  [2] See note 1. See also object file F2014.6.1-19 “Japan, Heian period, Group of Calligraphies, Gift of Sylvan Barnet and William Burto. Documents: 2004-2013” for Gift Agreement between the [Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery] and Sylvan Barnet and William Burto. Signed by the Director on August 9, 2004, and counter-signed by Barnet and Burto August 13, 2004. The object is described as “Sutra of the Wise and Foolish, chapter 45; ELS 2004.1.5.” Additionally, see object file for a copy of the “Will of William Burto,” signed and dated February 14, 2011, Article I, “Executor. I appoint Sylvan Barnet, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to be Executor of this will,” and Article II, “I give my art collection as follows: (1) To the Smithsonian Institution, Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., all of my right, title and interest, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all copyright and associated rights, in the following works of art,” including “Sutra of the Wise and Foolish, chapter 45,” described as “Nara period, 8th century; Segment of a handscroll mounted as a hanging scroll; ink on paper.” See also The William Burto Revocable Trust, signed and dated June 9, 2011.

  Sylvan Barnet (1926-2015) and William Burto (1921-2013) were scholars of English literature and collectors of Asian art, focusing on Korean and Japanese works. The two amassed one of the finest private collections of Zen calligraphy, which featured works from the Nara through the Edo periods. As a professor of English literature at Tufts University in the early 1960s, Barnet proposed unique editions of Shakespeare plays, complete with introductions and study aids, to New American Library. The publishing house would produce “The Signet Classic Shakespeare” from 1963 to 1972. Barnet served as general editor as well as providing introductions for several plays, and these popular editions were widely adopted by universities throughout the United States.

  Barnet and Burto purchased their first object, a Korean celadon bowl, in New York in 1963. Just a few years later, they purchased their first calligraphy from Nathan V. Hammer, a work by Jiun Onkō. Following William Burto’s death in 2013, his half of the collection was given to the The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Harvard Art Museums; Metropolitan Museum of Art; and the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, respectively. Before his death in 2016, Sylvan Barnet donated his half of the collection to the same institutions.

  [3] See note [2], and object file F2014.6.1-19 “Japan, Heian period, Group of Calligraphies, Gift of Sylvan Barnet and William Burto. Acquisition papers,” for Deed of Gift signed by Sylvan Barnet September 24, 2014, and counter-signed by the Director October 7, 2014. In the attached object list, it is noted that Barnet is giving the Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, his “50% share of ownership of: Section of “Ananda’s Perfect Memory,” Chapter 45 of the Sutra of the Wise and Foolish” described as “Nara period, 8th century; Japan; Ink on paper,” with the credit line “Gift of Sylvan Barnet and William Burto in honor of Tajima Mitsuru.” The object is part of the Museum’s Freer Gallery of Art Collection.

  [4] See notes 2 and 3.

  Research updated May 21, 2024

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Words of Wisdom: Buddhist Calligraphy from Japan (April 1, 2023 to February 25, 2024)

  The Beginnings of Buddhism in Japan (October 14, 2017 to October 28, 2018)

  Faith and Form: Selected Calligraphy and Painting from the Japanese Religious Traditions (March 20 to July 18, 2004)

  The Written Image: Japanese Calligraphy and Painting from the Sylvan Barnet and William Burto Collection (October 1, 2002 to March 02, 2003)

• Previous custodian or owner

  London Gallery, Ltd.

  Sylvan Barnet (1926-2015)

  William Burto (1921-2013)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Sylvan Barnet and William Burto in honor of Tajima Mitsuru

• Type

  Calligraphy

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  700s

• Name

  Barnet, Sylvan, London Gallery, Ltd., Burto, William

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Late Nara (Tempyo) period (710 - 794), Art, Japanese Art, Sutra, Makimono

• Culture

  Buddhists, Japanese

• Object Type

  Calligraphy (visual works)