Flowers and Insects
Mid 19th century, Edo period
Tsubaki Chinzan (1801-54), Japanese
Ink and color on silk
Founders Society Purchase, with funds from Mr.
and Mrs. Charles M. Endicott
Museum number: 82.31
This hand scroll combines images of eight
different flowers with poetry about them.
Reading from the right end of the painting, the
flowers and poetry are:
Peony: Features by nature beautiful,
No need to use cosmetics.
Orchid: A thin mist suffused with ambergris,
A cold gust scatters its pendants.
Hollyhock: Jade-green leaves laden with clear
dew,
Golden blossoms ruffled by the morning breeze.
Gardenia: Jadeite faces shining on the
branches,
Rich fragrance wafting beneath the leaves.
Lotus: An air of ease and leisure on the
small pond,
An expression of fine spirit on the waves.
Daylily: Flowers casually woven into satin
clouds,
Fresh-cut leaves like silken sashes.
Chrysanthemum: For a thousand years the
source of white-robe wine,
All its life it endures the Blue Maiden's
frosts.
Camellia: Leaves thick as rhinoceros hide, Blossoms red as a crane's head.
Based on the artist's inscription at the end
of the painting, this painting resulted from the
artist Tsubaki Chinzan admiring and copying the
lines of poetry from a Chinese painting of
flowers. He painted the flowers as visual
references to accompany the poetry, resulting in
an excellent work of art that exemplifies the
"Three Perfections" of painting,
poetry, and calligraphy.
|
