Boy on a Bull, late 19th century, Ueda K?ch?, Japanese, 1819 - 1911, 45 1/4 ¡Ñ 14 1/2 in. (114.94 ¡Ñ 36.83 cm) (image)63 1/4 ¡Ñ 18 3/4 in. (160.66 ¡Ñ 47.63 cm) (mount), Ink and color on silk, Japan, 19th century, Seated atop a mountainous bull, a young oxherd attempts to rein the animal in, but from the boy¡¦s piteous expression it is clear that he is not in control. A handful of plum blossoms flutter to the ground near the feet of the bull, indicating that this painting is related to the Shintoist Tenjin cult. The bull was considered sacred in Tenjin worship and plum blossoms were favored by Sugawara Michizane, the cult¡¦s patron deity.