Courtier on horseback with attendant

Object Details

• Artist

  Takaaki (or Ryusho)

• Description

  This painting has the unusual feature of a fully painted border that intentionally imitates a conventional mounting assembled of several pieces of silk textile. The image shows a courtier dressed in traditional equestrian regalia who sits astride a rearing house. An attendant assists him in managing the horse. In the space above the figures is a painted square intended to resemble a decorated poem sheet to receive an inscription. Usually the inscription would be written by a calligrapher rather than by the painter, who is identified only by a signature and seal giving the personal name "Takaaki" or the alternative reading, "Ryusho."

• Inscriptions

  1. (Ann Yonemura 6 February 1997) Signature (lower right) and seal (below signature) giving the personal name "Takaaki" or the alternative reading, "Ryusho."

• Collection

  Freer Study Collection

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Evelyn C. Lazzari in memory of Pietro Lazzari

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Name

  Takaaki (or Ryusho)

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Art, Animals, Japanese Art, Lacquer, Horses, Taisho era (1912 - 1926), Meiji era (1868 - 1912), Attendant, Courtier, Kakemono

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings