umaya-zu　厩図

KEY WORD :　art history / paintings

Also keima-zu 繋馬図. Paintings of horses tethered in a stable. Although the subject is found in a 13c handscroll *emaki 絵巻 of Bai soushi 馬医草紙 (Horse Doctors), most extant examples are depicted on folding screens *byoubu 屏風. It became a popular subject during the late Momoyama and early Edo periods reflecting the warrior classes's enthusiasm and concern for horses during those war-torn years. Often the images of restless, energetic steeds are depicted on one screen of a pair, is contrasted with quiet, calm horses on the other screen. In addition, the horses are often depicted with grooms and guards. Monkeys, thought to ensure equestrian health, are also sometimes shown in late Momoyama screens. Seasonal details of trees and flowers were often prominently worked into the settings. A well-known example is a pair of folding screens in the imperial collection from the late 16c. Occasionally, a screen of umaya-zu is paired with a screen of horse-training *chouba-zu 調馬図, as in the Taga Jinja 多賀神社 screens (early 17c), Shiga prefecture.

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