Boy on a water buffalo

Object Details

• Artist

  Sekkyakushi (14th-15th century)

• Provenance

  ?-?

  Reportedly in the collection of the Maeda family, Japan, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  At least 1965-1966

  N. V. Hammer, Inc., New York, method of acquisition unknown [2]

  From 1966

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from N. V. Hammer, Inc., New York [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See object file for 1966 note by H. P. Stern, “Formerly in the Maeda Collection”. The Maeda family were feudal lords in Kaga Province and the second largest landowners in Japan after the Tokugawa family, as well as patrons of arts. Toshinari Maeda (1885-1942) was the sixteenth marquis of the Maeda family and a General in the Imperial Japanese Army, and he expanded the family collection to include European paintings and sculptures.

  [2] See object file for copy of Freer Gallery of Art vault record for V154.65, described as “Painting, Ashikaga, att. to Sekkyokushi – kakemono, man on water buffalo,” dated December 8, 1965.

  [3] See object file for copy of N. V. Hammer, Inc., invoice to Freer Gallery of Art, dated April 25, 1966, and marked approved by the Secretary on April 11, 1966.

  Research updated August 4, 2023

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Mind Over Matter: Zen in Medieval Japan (March 5, 2022 - July 24, 2022)

  Tales and Legends in Japanese Art (June 21, 2003 to January 4, 2004)

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

  Japanese Art: Paintings and Pottery (July 1, 1966 to May 2, 1973)

• Previous custodian or owner

  N.V. Hammer, Inc.

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1400s

• Name

  N.V. Hammer, Inc.

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Art, Muromachi period (1333 - 1573), Japanese Art, Kakemono, Water buffalo

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings