Autumn left of a pair of Birds and Flowers in Spring and Autumn, second half 19th century, Shibata Zeshin, Japanese, 1807 - 1891, 69 x 23 in. (175.3 x 58.4 cm) (each panel), Lacquer and gold on paper, Japan, 19th century, Shibata Zeshin first trained under the lacquer artist Koma Kansai (1766-1835), but in order to improve his sense of design, he was sent to study painting with Suzuki Nanrei (1775-1844) and Okamoto Toyohiko (1773-1845), both pupils of Maruyama Okyo. As a painter he became famous for his meticulous technique and creative compositions, many rendered in lacquer. In these impressive screens, Zeshin illustrates plants associated with each of the four seasons. Beginning on the right, he depicts a blossoming plum, associated with late winter and the beginning of spring. Dandelions, foxtail ferns, violets and peonies all blossom in later spring and summer. A small uguisu (Japanese bush warbler), whose song is common in spring, perches on a plum branch, while sparrows busily pe