Artwork
The Third Princess with her Cat, from the "New Herbs I" (Wakana I) chapter The Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari}
The Third Princess with her Cat, from the "New Herbs I" (Wakana I) chapter The Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari} is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Tsukioka Settei. It dates from 1749 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a courtly woman identified as the third princess from the "New Herbs I" (Wakana I) chapter of The Tale of Genji, accompanied by a domestic cat. The composition, rendered by Tsukioka Settei in 1749, captures a moment of refined domestic life, emphasizing the princess's status and the intimate presence of the cat as a symbolic companion within the narrative scene. The work reflects Edo-period artistic interest in literary subjects from the Genji and serves as a visual transcription of the chapter's courtly setting, linking literary narrative to visual representation in Japanese painting.
Technique & Style
The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses the object, which portrays the Third Princess from the "New Herbs I" chapter of The Tale of Genji.
Created in 1749 by Tsukioka Settei, this work is classified as a painting originating from Japan. The piece depicts a princess accompanied by a cat, rendered within the visual traditions of the artist's period. The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses the object, which portrays the Third Princess from the "New Herbs I" chapter of The Tale of Genji.
As a painted image, it relies on the application of color and line to define the figures and their interaction, characteristic of the era's illustrative styles for literary narratives.
History & Provenance
The painting was created by Tsukioka Settei in 1749 in Japan. The work is presently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. No information regarding a specific commission or earlier owners is recorded in the available sources.
Overview
Created by Tsukioka Settei in 1749, The Third Princess with her Cat is a painting that illustrates a scene from The Tale of Genji. Specifically, it references the "New Herbs I" (Wakana I) chapter, depicting the titular princess in a quiet moment with her feline companion. This work is part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Tsukioka Settei (月岡 雪鼎, 1710 – 22 January 1787) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist. Settei was born in Ōmi Province and studied painting in Osaka in the style of the Kanō school under Takada Keiho. He was strongly influenced…
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花魁図|Parading Courtesan- The Third Princess and a Cat, from the "New Herbs I" (Wakana I) chapter The Tale of Genji (Genji monogatari}
