Lot 38: DARUMA

Konoe Nobutada (1565-1614) Daruma Hanging scroll, ink on paper, with inscription, signed and sealed by the artist 100 × 41cm. (excluding mount)

Konoe Nobutada was a courtier and well known as a distinguished calligrapher, painter and poet. He was particularly renowned for his dynamic and free style of calligraphy, and is one of the Kanei no Sanpitsu [Three Brushes of Kanei period]. He developed his own calligraphic style Sanmyakuin-ryu and was appreciated amongst other calligraphers of the time who generally tended to be more conventional and rigid. This work shows his particular style of calligraphy combined with a characterful painting of Daruma. For similar examples by the same artist, see Tokyo National Museum and Kyoto National Museum et al. ed., Nanzenji: Kameyama Hoo 700 nen gyoki kinen [Treasures of a great Zen temple The Nanzenji], (Tokyo, 2004), p.192, pl.115; Tokyo bijutsu seinen kai, Nihon no sumie – Tenpei kara gendai made – Tokyo bijutsu seinen kai soritsu goju-shunen kinen tokubetsu ten, (Tokyo, 1984), pl.47.