Suntory Museum of Art
About the Museum
Collection
Notable Works
Flowers and Birds of the Four Seasons

Notable Works

Paintings

Flowers and Birds of the Four Seasons

Important cultural property

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Artist: attributed to Tosa Hirochika( 1429 - 1487 )
Number of components: Pair of six-panel folding screens
Format and materials: Color on paper
Dimensions (in cm): L. 150.0, W. 361.8 (each)
Date of production: Muromachi period 15th century

A selection of flowering trees and plants including camellias, crab apple, pear, rose, plum, peony, hibiscus, and chrysanthemum painted according to the seasons. Small birds fly among the trees or perch on branches to rest their wings. As the picture is done in the style of the bird-and-flower paintings of Ming dynasty China, most of the birds and flowers are exotic. The alignment of the spatial composition is impressive. Each screen is signed and certified by Tosa Mitsuoki, stating that in his opinion the artist is Tosa Hirochika. The painting is appropriate to the Muromachi period as it brings together elements from both Chinese painting and the Yamato-e classical Japanese painting style.

Notable Works

Flowers and Birds of the Four Seasons

SUNTORY MUSEUM of ART