Painter and Dragon

Artist/Culture Katsushika Hokuga (Japanese)

Date1800s–early 1900s

Mediumink, opaque colors on silk

Dimensionsimage: 71.3 × 29.1 cm (28 1/16 × 11 7/16 in.)
overall: 170.6 x 35.8 cm (67 3/16 x 14 1/8 in.)

ClassificationsPaintings

Credit LineGift from the Estate of John Chandler Bancroft

Terms

painting

Object number1901.1347

Label Text2000-02-22: PAINTER AND DRAGON Sanda Hokuga (act. 19th century) Hanging scroll, ink and color on silk Signature: Manjiro Hokuga oju ga (painted by special request Manjiro Hokuga); 2 Seals: Hoku (upper), ga (lower) Dated in correspondence with autumn, 1854 John Chandler Bancroft Collection, 1901.1347 The subject of this painting is probably a Chinese legend about the sixth century painter, Chang Sang-yu (Japanese: Chosoyu). It is said that when the artist put the last touch of his brush to the silk while he was painting a dragon, a black cloud arose from the painting accompanied by thunder and lightning; a dragon then escaped from the room. Similar stories are told about Chinese Tang period (618-ca.907) painters who were also known for their realistic styles. This painting is a mitate-e, an allusion, that uses anProvenanceEstate of John Chandler Bancroft, Boston MA

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