Civets Under Trees

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Artist: Attributed to Kano Utanosuke Yukinobu
Number of components: Six-panel folding screen
Format and materials: Light color on paper
Dimensions (in cm): L. 154.3, W. 338.4 (each)
Date of production: Muromachi period 16th century

Originally, this six-panel folding screen formed a pair with Civets, Pine Tree, Birds, and Flowers in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. The spatial composition combines waterfalls, craggy rocks, trees and other elements frequently found in the works of Kanō Motonobu, who painted Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons at Daisenin, a sub-temple of Daitokuji Temple. The exotic civet cat is positioned at center surrounded by a multitude of small birds and seasonal flowers. The seal suggests that the painting is by Utanosuke Yukinobu, the younger brother of Motonobu. It is a masterpiece that shows off the artist's mastery of brushwork barely distinguishable from Motonobu's work.

Notable Works

Civets Under Trees

SUNTORY MUSEUM of ART