Twelve Centuries of Japanese Art from the Imperial Collections Hardcover - 1998

Media reviews

The catalog of an exhibition held in the Sackler Gallery to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Freer Gallery, this work brings to light the most important selection of works from the Japanese imperial collections ever shown to the public. Drawn largely from the Museum of the Imperial Collections in Tokyo, they represent the best of the private collections of the Japanese emperors and were mainly assembled by the Meiji emperor (1852-1912). Seventy-six color plates highlight paintings as well as works of calligraphy, half of which were created by emperors themselves, including examples from the Heian (794-1185) and Kamakura (1185-1333) periods. The subject matter also includes portraits, court scenes, flowers, birds, animals, and children. The layout of the catalog is similar to Art Treasures from the Imperial Collections (1975. o.p.), with a page of description for each work. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries with an interest in Asian art. (from Library Journal; Lucia S. Chen, NYPL; Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.)

There's much to admire in this beautifully produced volume--calligraphy, scrolls and screens--but the reproduction of Hokusai's lovely 1839 rendering, in colored ink, of "Drying Watermelon Rind" is reason enough to own the book, or give it to a friend. (The Wall Street Journal, Francine Prose)