“Peach and Ribbon-Tailed Bird”

Ōkubo Tadatsune

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Artist Name: Ōkubo Tadatsune
Title: “Peach and Ribbon-Tailed Bird”
Dimensions: painting：129.5×29.0㎝
full length：190.3×38.9㎝
Medium: “Ink and Light Color on Paper”
Description: In the upper left of the composition, the trunk of a tree is seen extending diagonally beyond the picture plane. From it, a single शाख bends downward, bearing ripe peaches. A ribbon-tailed bird perches upon the branch. This is a *Peach and Ribbon-Tailed Bird* painting by Ōkubo Tadatsune. Both the ribbon-tailed bird and the peach are auspicious motifs, symbolizing longevity and prosperity.

Ōkubo Tadatsune (1724–1803) was a hatamoto (direct retainer of the Tokugawa shogunate) in the mid-Edo period. He was the heir of Ōkubo Tadasuke and a great-grandson of Ōkubo Tadataka, who was known as the “Advisor to the Realm” (*Tenka no Goikenban*). His common name was Hikozemon. In 1744 (Enkyō 1), he succeeded to the family position and later that year had an audience with Tokugawa Yoshimune, after which he was appointed to the Shōin Guard. He resigned from this post in 1756 (Hōreki 6) and retired in 1789 (Kansei 1).

Although a hatamoto by rank, Tadatsune was also accomplished in painting and is known for works executed in the style of the Nanpin school.