Scroll Painting | kakemono

The painting in portrait format in coloured ink on silk is mounted on a paper base and framed with decorative silk brocade borders; there are bone staves sewn into the fabric at the top and bottom for rolling purposes. The picture shows the Buddhist Saint (Arhat) Rahula sitting in a relaxed position and turning his body to a mountain goat. Rahula was the son of Siddhartha Gautama, the later Buddha. He entered his father's Order at a young age and soon became a saint. According to an inscription on the back added at a late date, the picture was painted by the famous artist and abbot, Mincho (1351/2-1431), who strongly influenced the art of his time, although this attribution is questionable. Ernst Grosse, who was the Honorary Director of the Municipal Collections at the time, managed to acquire the work against numerous obstacles with help from the Lord Mayor of Freiburg, Dr Otto Winterer. Author: Eva Gerhards, Translation: Timothy Connell