Sakyamuni on an Elephant

Sakyamuni is seated on a white elephant with elaborate trappings. He is carrying a ruyi scepter and is accompanied by two attendants carrying scrolls. The figures are in a landscape with clouds and with a tree bearing red flowers. No seals, inscriptions or labels.

Maker(s)
Artist: Formerly attributed to Su Hanchen (active early to mid-12th century)
Historical period(s)
Ming dynasty, 16th-17th century
Medium
Ink and color on silk
Dimensions
H x W: 189.3 x 81.4 cm (74 1/2 x 32 1/16 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1906.270
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Painting
Type

Hanging scroll (mounted on panel)

Keywords
Buddha, Buddhism, China, elephant, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), tree
Provenance

To 1906
Yamanaka & Company, to 1906 [1]

From 1906 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Yamanaka & Company in 1906 [2]

From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

Notes:

[1] Undated folder sheet note. Also see Original Kakemono and Makimono List, L. 538, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. The majority of Charles Lang Freer’s purchases from Yamanaka & Company were made at its New York branch. Yamanaka & Company maintained branch offices, at various times, in Boston, Chicago, London, Peking, Shanghai, Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto. During the summer, the company also maintained seasonal locations in Newport, Bar Harbor, and Atlantic City.

[2] See note 1.

[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919
Yamanaka and Co. (C.L. Freer source) 1917-1965

Description

Sakyamuni is seated on a white elephant with elaborate trappings. He is carrying a ruyi scepter and is accompanied by two attendants carrying scrolls. The figures are in a landscape with clouds and with a tree bearing red flowers. No seals, inscriptions or labels.

Published References
  • Raman Sukumar. The Story of Asia's Elephants. India. p. 125, fig. 5.25.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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