Rezanov Scroll (1 results)

Soft cover. Condition: Near Fine. This unique document, a small sketch for a future portrait, was made by an unknown Japanese painter. The vivid naturalistic drawing contains a detailed depiction of the uniform of Nikolay Rezanov (1764-1807), a famous Russian diplomat, nobleman and statesman. On September 6, 1804, Rezanov entered the port of Nagasaki aboard the ship Nadezhda with an ambitious plan to undermine the Tokugawa isolation. He spent half a year in Dejima, to no avail. The documentary qualities of the sketch testify that the creator of the image saw the captain with his own eyes. The sketch is mounted on calico, or sitetz, fabric, to highlight that the model of the portrait, as well as the framing pattern, came from overseas.  Contemporary Japanese cloth kakejiku binding. A few stains on the binding, some cleansing on the drawing. Overall very good to near-fine condition. 51x24.8cm (image size), 144x32cm (scroll size). Comes with old wooden box.