TWO JAPANESE 'DUCK' PAINTINGS

Edo Period

Studies of various ducks inscribed with anatomical annotations, in the style of Kano Tan'yu (1602 - 74)

Ink and colour on paper, mounted in glazed frames

26 x 45cm; 26.5 x 34cm

the frames 40.5 x 60cm; 41 x 48.5cm

(2)

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NOTE:

See a collection of 47 studies of ducks and birds housed in the British Museum, no. JP 2703-2749. The sketches are copies by Noda Tomin of earlier copies of Kano Tan'yu's 'Sketches of Various Birds' - then in the possession of Kano Toshun, fourth head of the Surugadai Kano school - made by Toshun's pupil Ogiwara Tokitsu.

Kano Tan'yu (1602 - 74), the man who established the dominant style of Edo-period painting, laying the foundation for the huge organization of official shogunate painters, is also known for his copies of large numbers of old paintings and for his numerous sketches of flora and fauna.