The Majesty of the Empire
- Period
- Meiji period, 1868–1912
- Date
- 1895–96
- Material
- Hanging scroll: ink and oil on silk
- Classification
- Paintings
- Collection
- Asian Art
- Current Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- image: 50 1/2 x 33 5/8 in. (128.3 x 85.4 cm)
scroll: 97 x 40 3/4 in. (246.4 x 103.5 cm)
width from roller end to roller end: 44 1/8 in. (112.1 cm) - Credit Line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Lowenhaupt
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 1060:2010
NOTES
This portrait of the Matsushima, a former flagship of the Imperial Japanese Navy, is a rare oil painting on silk. Kobayashi Kiyochika’s skillful handling of oils is evident in the hazy sky and the choppy water with explosions rupturing its surface. Prince Arisugawa-no-miya Takehito (1862–1913) commanded the Matsushima from December 5, 1894, through May 18, 1895, during which period the cruiser was badly damaged in the Battle of the Yellow Sea off the coast of China.
The prince inscribed the painting with a classical poem:
Though divided in a thousand ways
are the minds of the people,
United as one in their hearts
is the love for their country."
The prince inscribed the painting with a classical poem:
Though divided in a thousand ways
are the minds of the people,
United as one in their hearts
is the love for their country."
Provenance
9/22/2004 - 12/2004
Floating World Gallery, Ltd. (William and Roberta Stein), Chicago, IL, purchased at auction, Christie's New York, Japanese and Korean Works of Art, Sale 1410, September 22, 2004, lot no. 162 [1]
2004 - 2010
Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Lowenhaupt, St. Louis, MO, purchased from Floating World Gallery, Ltd.
[2]
2010 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Lowenhaupt [3]
Notes:
[1] Published in
Christie's New York, Japanese and Korean Works of Art, Sale 1410, September 22, 2004 (New York: Christie's, 2004), p. 98, lot no. 162 (color illustration).
[2] Lowenhaupt collection database compiled by Sebastian Dobson [copy in SLAM document files].
[3] Minutes of the Collections Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, September 24, 2010.
Floating World Gallery, Ltd. (William and Roberta Stein), Chicago, IL, purchased at auction, Christie's New York, Japanese and Korean Works of Art, Sale 1410, September 22, 2004, lot no. 162 [1]
2004 - 2010
Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Lowenhaupt, St. Louis, MO, purchased from Floating World Gallery, Ltd.
[2]
2010 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Lowenhaupt [3]
Notes:
[1] Published in
Christie's New York, Japanese and Korean Works of Art, Sale 1410, September 22, 2004 (New York: Christie's, 2004), p. 98, lot no. 162 (color illustration).
[2] Lowenhaupt collection database compiled by Sebastian Dobson [copy in SLAM document files].
[3] Minutes of the Collections Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, September 24, 2010.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.