Illustrations of Genji Monogatari: Vol. 2, The Sacred Tree
17th century
The Tale of Genji was written in the 1000s by Murasaki Shikibu, a lady-in-waiting at the imperial court in Kyoto. It details the trials of Genji, a cavorting young courtier. This set of handscrolls includes a passage of text and illustration for each of the tale’s fifty-four chapters. The paintings offer glimpses of the daily lives of courtiers, including meticulous detailing of the textures and colors of interior furnishings, décor, and fashion. Beginning in the 1400s, generations of painters of the Tosa school received patronage, primarily from members of the aristocracy.
Handscroll; color and platinum on paper
10 1/2 in. (26.67 cm)
L.: 29.9 ft
Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection
52.40.2
