Two pheasants perch on a rock by a stream with lush peonies and bamboo rising above, comfortable in the lush, naturalistic setting. The artist’s superlative technique is clearly evident as is a sure sense of effective composition and design. The usual polychromatic beauty of pheasants and the blossoms around, along with their significance as symbols of refinement and achievement, is hidden beneath this winning performance of ink alone.
Yamamoto Baiitsu (1783-1856) was born in Nagoya, where he learned the styles and techniques of Chinese painting through study of the collection of Kamiya Ten’yu, a wealthy collector, who also introduced the young painter to the traditions and values of the literati. In 1803, in company of his close friend, the artist and scholar Nakabayashi Chikuto (1776-1853), Baiitsu moved to live and work in Kyoto. A prolific painter and major master of the Nanga school of painting, Baiitsu returned to Nagoya in 1854 and worked for the Owari clan, the Nagoya branch of the ruling Tokugawa clan.
Painting details:
Box:
梅逸翁水墨花鳥図
The Venerable Baiitsu’s ink painting of birds and flowers.
梅逸翁画以花鳥為得意如此幅以水墨写之墨彩渙発姿
韻兼勝為得意中之絶作因題爰数言以表鑑賞之意云
戊申之冬月 七十八卓翁 「卓翁」「鑑賞」
梅逸翁画以花鳥為得意
此幅以水墨写之
墨彩渙発姿韻兼勝
為得意中之絶作
因題爰数言以表鑑賞之意云
戊申之冬月 七十八卓翁
「卓翁」「鑑賞」
-卓翁 小林卓斎
The Venerable Baiitsu excelled at painting birds and flowers. This scroll was done in ink, the color of which is vivid and excellent, making it one *of his masterworks. I thus add these words to express the admiration of a connoisseur. On a winter month during the year 1908, Taku* at the age of 77 years old. Seals: aku o: Kansho
*Kobayashi Takusai. (1831-1916) was born in Kyoto and studied calligraphy with Nukina Kaioku.
Closeup of seals.
梅逸翁水墨花鳥之図
竹村先生添書
竹村(邨)-田近竹邨
The Venerable Baiitsu’s ink painting of birds and flowers.
Chikuson-sensei’s accompanying note
Tajika Chikuson (1864-1922), born in Hita in Ōita prefecture. Studied with Tanomura Chokunyu.
Accompanying note by Tajika Chikuson (1864-1922):
墨中有彩花咲鳥
語是便梅翁得意手
腕嬴他脂粉繽分
紛者萬々明治四十有
五年歳次壬子夏半
識於安桜山下客次
竹邨桑者
「物外人」「竹邨」
墨中有彩花咲鳥語
是便梅翁得意手腕
嬴他脂粉繽分紛者萬々
明治四十有五年歳次壬子夏半
識於安桜山下客次
竹邨桑者
「物外人」「竹邨」
竹邨
In the ink there are ‘smiling flowers and talking birds’
just the skill at which the venerable Baiitsu excelled,
surpassing the other skills of colorfulness and richness.
Written in the middle of summer of the year 1912, the 45th of the Meiji era, in a guest house at the foot of Mt. Azakura (in Gifu prefecture) by Chikuson so-ja.*
Seals: Butsu gai jin; Chikuson
*Tajika Chikuson (1864-1922) was born in Hita, Oita prefecture, and studied with Tanomura Chokunyu.