Onishi CHINNEN (1792-1851)

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An original brush drawing, sumi on paper, 8.75 x 12.25 in; 22.2 x 31 cm. Another consummate Shijo artist. A samurai who studied painting under Watanabe Nangaku and Tani Buncho. He not only produced makimono and painting albums of great facility but also ehon such as Azuma no teburi, 1829 and Sonan gafu, 1834. Talking about this painting, J. Hillier in Japanese Drawings of the 18th and 19th centuries, exhibition catalogue, Washington D.C., 1980, cat. No. 105, p. 122 states that: “But it is under such duress that the innate skills of an artist like Chinnen is pushed to its limit: and the result can be breathtaking.” This is in fact an album leaf that has been expertly mounted by Paul Maruyama/Wills. Shows a reclining ox: a subject often tackled by artists to show their skill. Provenance: Ex Nathan Chaikin collection. Exhibited and illustrated in Jack Hillier, The Uninhibited Brush: Japanese Art in the Shijo Style, London, Hugh Moss, 1974, p. 321; Jack Hillier, Japanese Drawings of the 18th and 19th centuries, exhibition catalogue, Washington, D.C., 1980 and as above.

Large signature Chinnen hitsu with seal Sonan. In fine condition apart from the obvious fold associated with the album it has come from.

Status: Available

Price: £2800