Attributed Tosa Mitsuoki (1 results)

Attributed to Tosa Mitsuoki (illustrator). An Early Edo Period, 17th century set of 25 paintings, entitled Ny?b? Sanj?rokkasen, or The Thirty-Six Immortal Women Poets. The Nyobo are a canon of Japanese poets who were anthologized in the middle Kamakura period. The compiler and exact date of the canon's construction is unknown, but its reference is subsequently noted in the Gunsho Ruij?, volume 13. Five of the 36, Ono no Komachi, Lady Ise, Nakatsukasa, Saig? no Ny?go and Kodai no Kimi also appeared in an earlier anthology with the similar title Thirty-Six Immortals of Poetry or Sanjurokkasen, which dates from 1113. The poet Fujiwara no Kint? chose this original selection that preceded the Thirty-Six Immortal Women Poets. These five women poets from the original publication were included in the Thirty-Six Immortal Women Poets and canonized along with others from the Heian and Kamakura eras. Each painting has been vividly painted in incredible detail, the many layered kimonos all brightly decorated with a variety of hues, and each figure with varying facial expressions. As can be seen in other Tosa School productions, all the figures are highlighted in gold illumination, making them shine and distinctly stand out against the background. The paintings have been attributed to Tosa Mitsuoki (1617-1691), all bearing his artist seals. Born the son of Tosa Mitsunori, much of Mitsuoki's early life is not heavily detailed, but in 1634, he relocated from Sakai, Osaka prefecture to the capitol at the behest of Emperor Go-Mizunoo. From there, he was appointed as a court painter and began producing ceremonial fans sensu for the court. By 1654, he succeeded his father as head of the Imperial Court painting bureau and effectively brought about a revival and restoration of the Tosa School's status and prosperity. The Tosa-ha became immensely popular throughout the Edo Period, and works of the Tosa School were favored by the elites and nobles of Kyoto. Mitsuoki's painting style was unique in that it embraced more influence from Chinese artistry, and stylistic choices of the Kano School as well, creating a new Tosa School style of painting. Many of his later successors used those very same techniques and style of painting as well, and it was this very stagnation which led to eventual disinterest in the family's work and their subsequent decline. An extremely similar example of such a Tosa School painting that was possibly by Mitsuoki can be found at Lot 338, at the April 8th, 2009 sale at Dominic Winter Auctions, hammering for 2700 GBP. This example was a painting of Murasaki Shikibu, and there are some virtually identical similarities which can be seen here, from the style of composition to the colors used. However, the 2009 example sold was produced on a simpler paper, and this series of paintings is further enhanced by the accompanying calligraphy above each figure, as well as a more clearly defined attribution. Each painting has been laid down on a studier backing paper with golden sparkles, and there is a pair of wooden boxes to accompany them, preserving them. 25 highly detailed and illuminated paintings on fine paper, 27.3 x 19.2 cm These paintings are in very good shape, with some scattered wear to the background of the paintings, with a few pieces affected, mostly one example with some of the paint having worn down. A few have minor worm tracks, with one painting slightly affected. There is minor staining to a few as well. Please refer to the photos for more. At least two of the poets have had some restoration to their painted hair.