Studio: international art (60.1914)

Studio-Talk

“PEACOCK” by YOSlilMURA KOKE1

chamber, the “Wave” chamber, and
several other smaller rooms, each deriving
its name from the subject of its mural
decoration. The intimate association ol
the treasures with the temple, and the
sacred atmosphere of the rooms served to
invest each article displayed with a certain
air of authority, which was no doubt very
advantageous from the selling point of view ;
it had, however, this disadvantage, that the
gorgeousness of the mural decoration over-
shadowed the works of art displayed. It
must be remembered that the temple is no
less than a palace in the exceptional splen-
dour of the rooms. The chambers have
excellent wood-carvings for the ramma
(ventilating panels near the ceiling), The
fusuma (sliding screens), walls, ceilings and

cedar doors have been painted by such famous artists
as Kano Ryokei, Kaihoku Yusetsu, Kano Hidenobu,
Kano Ryotatsu, Kano Koi, Yoshimura Kokei, Kano
Tannyu, Kano Eitoku and others. Indeed, nowhere
else can the decorative genius of the Kano school be
seen to such advantage. Although the walls and
rusuma were pretty well covered with the kakemono
and byobu offered for sale, what there remained exposed
of their rich paintings in subdued gold and deep-toned
green gunjo had a mysterious power of captivating the
eyes of the spectators, and of belittling the objects
displayed in front of them.

A pair of gold screens painted by Ogata Korin,
which appeared in the first sale, has, perhaps, created
the greatest sensation. The subject is the iris, and the
composition is simple, but the grouping is excellent
and the treatment bold and effective. These screens

“landscape” by pien ching-chao

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