The Property of an English Gentleman
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892) | Fujiwara no Yasumasa Playing the Flute by Moonlight | Meiji period, late 19th century
Lot Closed
September 29, 02:16 PM GMT
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
The Property of an English Gentleman
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)
Fujiwara no Yasumasa Playing the Flute by Moonlight
Meiji period, late 19th century
ink, colour, gold and gofun on paper, signed Tsukioka Yoshitoshi tsutsushinde kore o kaku (Respectfully painted by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi), originally mounted as a hanging scroll, silk brocade border, framed and glazed
140.7 x 72.6 cm., 55⅜ x 28½ in. (including frame)
122 x 54 cm., 48 x 21¼ in. (excluding frame)
On the same subject as the present lot, Yoshitoshi submitted a painting at the Exhibition for the Advancement of Painting (Naikoku kaiga kyoshinkai ) in the autumn of 1882. Both depict Fujiwara no Yasumasa (958-1036), the Heian period courtier, celebrated poet and flute-player. The story tells that one night while playing his flute on the Ichihara moor he was approached by Hakamadare Yasusuke (Kidomaru), a bandit, who planned to kill him. However as he was about to draw his sword and attack, Hakamadare Yasusuke was so enchanted by the music that he abandoned his plan.
For an example of a woodblock print Yoshitoshi designed on the original painting submitted to the exhibition, Widely considered the artist's masterpiece, in the collection of the Museum of Replica Handbags s, Boston, accession number 11.20238-40, go to: