Sugawara no Michizane Praying on Mount Tenpai
1800
unspecified
From the collection of Museum of Fine Arts Boston
1800
unspecified
From the collection of Museum of Fine Arts Boston
This painting depicts a man standing on a rocky outcropping, his body angled to the left. He wears a long, flowing robe with a red sash around his waist and holds a sword at his side. His hair is styled in an updo, and he gazes upward, his mouth open as if in prayer or song. A white paper or cloth floats above him, and a black object, possibly a bird or a hat, hovers in the air. The background is a cloudy sky with rays of light shining through, suggesting a dramatic or spiritual moment. The overall mood is one of intensity and devotion. To learn more about the artistic techniques used in this painting, explore the technique of chiaroscuro.
