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Grand Ritual with Music at Ise, from an untitled series of small perspective pictures

Grand Ritual with Music at Ise, from an untitled series of small perspective pictures

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Utagawa Toyoharu

The Ise Grand Shrine was first established by Emperor Temmu (r. 672–86) as the principal cult shrine to the imperial family of Japan. The most venerated shrine in all of Japan, it became the center of religious practice and holy pilgrimages to the site were common for all levels of society. Toyoharu’s interior design shows an elaborate ritual in progress. The back of the presiding Shinto priest is shown at the center of the composition flanked by two maidens. Music accompanies the ritual, and a ceremonial drum sits at the left of the platform. The attendees are denoted by their dress as men of the highest levels of society. They include court nobles, with their ceremonial robes and court hats, and members of the samurai class, with their swords and distinctive topknots.
Artist
Utagawa Toyoharu
(Japanese, 1735 - 1814)
Title
Grand Ritual with Music at Ise, from an untitled series of small perspective pictures
Date
ca. 1770
Medium
Color woodcut
Dimensions
104 x 154 mm Overall
Credit
Bequest of John H. Van Vleck
Accession No.
1980.3075
Classification
Prints
Geography
Japan

Related

By 1925, purchased in Japan by Frank Lloyd Wright; ca. 1926, acquired by The Bank of Wisconsin; 1928, sold to Edward Burr Van Vleck (Madison, WI); 1943, passed through inheritance to Edward’s son, John H. Van Vleck (Madison, WI); 9 January 1980, bequeathed by John H. Van Vleck to the Elvehjem Museum of Art [now called Chazen Museum of Art]

  • Mueller, Laura. "Competition and Collaboration: Japanese Prints of the Utagawa School." Leiden, The Netherlands: Hotei Publishing, 2007. p. 74, no. 26

  • Utagawa: Masters of the Japanese Print, 1770-1900 : Chazen Museum of Art, 3/21/2008–6/15/2008
  • Competition and Collaboration: Japanese Prints of the Utagawa School: Chazen Museum of Art, 11/3/2007–1/6/2008

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