Lot 314: Kishi Chikudo (1826-1897)

Pair of mid-size six panel screens, ink, color, and gold on paper; depicting a garden filled with birds and flowers, the right screen representing spring and summer with a sandpiper wading in shallow water, a flock of sparrows gathering in tree branches, and delicately rendered flowers including cherry blossoms, pink peonies, yellow kerria, white lilies, arrow root, and camellia; the left screen corresponding to autumn and winter, with a pair of quail hiding in grasses, shrikes and finches flying above, and a kingfisher perched on a reed, with seasonal plants including pampas grass, dianthus, bush clover, mistflower, hibiscus, cotton rose, ardisia, and narcissus; signed Chikudo Ganraku sha and Chikudo, sealed Kishi Shoroku no in and Chikudo.
54 x 109in (137.2 x 276.9cm) each

Kishi Chikudo was the premier pupil and adopted son of Kyoto artist Kishi Renzan (1805-1859). Prior to studying with Renzan, Chikudo was apprenticed to Kano Eigaku (1790-1867). He specialized in landscapes and animals, and was appointed to the Art Committee of the Imperial Household in 1896. His early work was inspired by the art of Maruyama Okyo (1733-1795), who also had a strong influence on his teacher, Renzan. In his lifetime, Chikudo was regarded as one of the three great painters of Kyoto, along with Mori Kansai (1814-1894) and Kono Bairei (1844-1895).