The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of May 16, 2022

Ibaraki

c. 1840

Shibata Zeshin 柴田 是真

(Japanese, 1807-1891)

Japan, Edo period

(1615-1868)

Hanging scroll, ink on paper

Overall: 214.6 x 195.5 cm (84 1/2 x 76 15/16 in.); Mounted: 205.2 x 185.2 cm (80 13/16 x 72 15/16 in.); Painting only: 161 x 172.2 cm (63 3/8 x 67 13/16 in.)

Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund 1990.6

Location

not on view

Description

In 1840 Shibata Zeshin was commissioned by an association of sugar wholesalers to paint an ema, a votive tablet, to be dedicated to the Shinto shrine Oji Inari in the city of Edo (now Tokyo). This sketch is thought to be a preparatory drawing for the tablet. It depicts the demon Ibaraki, who resided in the Rashomon Gate, the southern gate of Heian-kyo (now Kyoto), rescuing its arm from the warrior Minamoto no Yorimitsu (948-1021). Yorimitsu had ordered it cut off by Watanabe no Tsuna (953-1025). Having disguised itself as Yorimitsu’s aunt to gain access to its severed limb, Ibaraki is in the midst of transforming back into demon form.

Citations
Cunningham, Michael R. "Notable Acquisitions." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 78, no. 3 (1991): 63-147. Reproduced and Mentioned: p. 147 www.jstor.org
Exhibition history

The Cleveland Museum of Art; 7/15/01-8/12/01 (1st of 2 rotations). "Unfolding Beauty: Japanese Screens from the Cleveland Museum of Art."

Main Asian Rotation (Gallery 236); July 21, 2014 - January 13, 2015.

Notable Acquisitions. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (June 7-September 15, 1991).

Unfolding Beauty: Japanese Screens from the Cleveland Museum of Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (July 15-September 16, 2001).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1990.6