Colorful Realm of Living Beings: Rooster and Hen with Hydrangeas
紫陽花双鶏図
Ito Jakuchu · 1759 (Horeki 9) · Hanging scroll
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A hanging scroll in color on silk painted in 1759 (Horeki 9) by the mid-Edo-period painter Ito Jakuchu, one of the 30 scrolls of the National Treasure Colorful Realm of Living Beings. It shows two roosters beneath hydrangeas and is held by the Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan.
- Artist
- Ito Jakuchu
- Date
- 1759 (Horeki 9)
- Medium / format
- Hanging scroll
About this work
Rooster and Hen with Hydrangeas is one of the 30 scrolls of Ito Jakuchu's Colorful Realm of Living Beings, painted in color on silk. According to the Sannomaru Shozokan's collection record, it dates from 1759 (Horeki 9) in the Edo period, measures 142.9 cm high by 79.7 cm wide, and is designated a National Treasure.
The tall composition shows clusters of bluish hydrangea blossoms and two roosters with differently colored plumage. The pale tones of the flowers contrast sharply with the red and black used for the birds' feathers.
Colorful Realm of Living Beings is a series of 30 scrolls of nearly the same size. In the museum's record each scroll carries a sequential accession number, and this one is number 6. Besides roosters, the series depicts fish, shells, and many other living things, changing the subject from scroll to scroll.
Where can I see it?
Exhibitions change over time. Check each museum's exhibition information before you visit.
Museums that hold this work
- The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru ShozokanMuseum's page for this work (opens in a new tab)
Chiyoda, Tokyo Accession no. SZK002949-006
Plan your visit to The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan
Find places to stay, activities and rental cars for a visit to The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan, which holds "Colorful Realm of Living Beings: Rooster and Hen with Hydrangeas".
Frequently asked questions
- Who painted Colorful Realm of Living Beings: Rooster and Hen with Hydrangeas, and when?
- Colorful Realm of Living Beings: Rooster and Hen with Hydrangeas is by Ito Jakuchu, made in 1759 (Horeki 9). Medium: Hanging scroll.
- Where can I see Colorful Realm of Living Beings: Rooster and Hen with Hydrangeas?
- It is held by The Museum of the Imperial Collections, Sannomaru Shozokan. Exhibitions change, so check each museum's information before you visit.
Sources and references
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