Hanging scroll with image of a tiger, seen on its back, sitting under a promontory with some vegetation.
Black ink, mineral colors and some gofun on silk.
After a painting by Maruyama Okyo.
Dated and signed: Keio year of the tiger, 1st day of spring (=New Year's Day of 1866), Takayoshi.
Seals: Mitsui Takayoshi and Shisei.
Japan, Edo period, dated 1866.
Image H 40 ½ x W 14 ¼ inches. Total height 76 inches.
Mitsui Takayoshi (1808-1885), born in Kyoto, established the Mitsui financial imperium and founded Mitsui Bank. He was known for his calligraphy and painting. He was an avid collector of objects connected to the tea ceremony. Today, his collection, including his own paintings, can be viewed in the Mitsui Memorial Museum in Tokyo.
The painting presented here was obviously painted to usher in the year of the tiger, 1866.
The painting was recently remounted in Japan and is in excellent condition
