Who painted Righteousness, from The Five Virtues?

Righteousness, from The Five Virtues was painted by Suzuki Harunobu in 1767.

Where can I see Righteousness, from The Five Virtues?

Righteousness, from The Five Virtues is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Righteousness, from The Five Virtues?

Righteousness, from The Five Virtues is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Righteousness, from The Five Virtues

Suzuki Harunobu , 1767

Righteousness, from The Five Virtues is a print by the Romanticist artist Suzuki Harunobu. It dates from 1767 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Righteousness, one of the five virtues illustrated in a series of prints, depicts a quiet interior scene illuminated by a single candle.

About this work

It’s part of a series on virtues, but here, Harunobu shows it through everyday life, not grand scenes.

Two young men sit close under a single candle, reading a book together. The room is quiet, lit only by the small flame.

The book they’re holding is a 1720 drawing manual—like an old how-to guide for artists. The poem at the top says being honest and fair is what makes a person good. It’s part of a series on virtues, but here, Harunobu shows it through everyday life, not grand scenes.

Look up *ukiyo-e*—the kind of prints Harunobu made—to see more of these quiet moments.

Overview

Righteousness, one of the five virtues illustrated in a series of prints, depicts a quiet interior scene illuminated by a single candle. Two youthful figures sit close together, sharing a book while the soft light emphasizes the intimacy of the moment. The composition is rendered in the delicate, flat style typical of mid‑eighteenth‑century Japanese woodblock prints.

Subject & Meaning

The figures are engaged in reading an illustrated drawing manual, a reference work for aspiring artists. A short poem above the scene advises humility, rationality, and honesty as the foundation of righteousness, linking the everyday act of study to the moral virtue the print is meant to embody.

Technique & Style

Executed in the ukiyo‑e tradition, the print employs fine line work and subtle color washes to convey texture and atmosphere. The candlelight is suggested through gradations of tone rather than dramatic chiaroscuro, creating a serene, almost meditative ambience.

History & Provenance

The book held by the figures is the Illustrated Book of the Treasure‑Bag of Sketches, published in 1720 by Tachibana Morikuni (1679–1748). The print itself belongs to a series produced by the artist Suzuki Harunobu, who was active in the 1760s and known for his innovations in multicolor printing.

Context

Harunobu’s series on the five virtues presents moral concepts through scenes of ordinary life rather than allegorical or mythological settings. By portraying young men in a modest domestic environment, the artist underscores the idea that ethical conduct is cultivated in daily practice.