Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced

Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced

$37,500.00
$37,500.00
Shipping calculated at checkout.

Title: Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), Circa 1603-1650. A Sumptuously Illuminated and Hand Painted Series of Twenty-Seven Yamato-E Paintings, Comprising of Different Chapters, all Masterfully Produced
Author: Tosa School; Original Story by Murasaki Shikibu
Condition: Very Good

An Early Edo Period, 17th century suite of 27 sumptuously illuminated and hand painted Yamato-E paintings for a Nara Ehon narrative or painting album, comprising of chapters of Murasaki Shikibu’s Genji Monogatari, or The Tale of Genji. This series of paintings, and the expert work displayed, is very easily attributable to an artist of the Tosa School.

The Genji Monogatari is Shikibu’s greatest literary work, often considered to be history’s first novel, and the first by a woman to have global recognition. The text itself is broken down in 54 chapters, depicting the lives of highborn courtiers of the Heian Period, and the text itself was originally written in hiragana. The first section, being chapters 1-33, focus on the life and experiences of Hikaru Genji, the titular protagonist, who is the son of Japanese Emperor Kiritsubo, and a low-ranking concubine. The second section of chapters 34-41 focus on his senior years and death, while the final section of chapters 42-54 focuses on Genji’s grandson Niou, and presumed son, Kaoru.

Each painting has been produced on fine paper (possibly torinoko) and sumptuously produced with profuse usage of gold leaf, gold inks, gold sprays, and clouds to decorate the borders. The detailing to each figure and building are also finely painted, with superb attention to detail on the vestments and kimono patterns, and additional gold work to each figure, making them more distinctive. There is considerable detail to the courtyards and mansion halls, and shading techniques used on the gardens and greenery. The fukinuki yatai technique is used here as well, where we can see beyond the roof of the buildings where individuals may be residing. The detail is truly stunning, with the floor of one mansion being individually decorated and illuminated to every tile, and background folding screen paintings in other scenes being impeccably detailed.   

In comparing to other Tosa School examples, this series of paintings bears some unmistakable similarities to object 2015.300.35a, b at the MET, being a 54-painting album of Scenes from The Tale of Genji. And as expected, some of the episodes from that album can be seen in our example, albeit with a few differences.

From the similar attention to detail, the profuse illumination work, backgrounds, and more, there are quite a few factors to compare, though it should be noted that the MET example is somewhat more superior in certain aspects, with more defines seas and additional layers of shading. However, this example also excels at other background detailing and illumination, such as one of the paintings with brilliantly illuminated tiling. With that in mind, it is also easier to date this suite of paintings to the early 17th century, or the Early Edo Period. These paintings are most certainly superior to examples produced by lesser-known artists and schools and respectfully exceeds that of the Kano School.

From the Muromachi to Mid Edo Period, Nara Ehon were produced in both booklet and scroll format, typically drawing from tales of the Otogi-zōshi, regular scenes of life, and other sources. There is a theory that they were created by Buddhist sculptors such as those at Kofuku-ji Temple in Nara, but the name was created after the Meiji period, and the relationship to Nara is unknown.

27 illuminated Nara Ehon, shikishi format paintings on fine paper, mounted on sheets, 23.2 x 21.3 cm full size, 20.2 x 18 cm main painting

These paintings are in very good shape, with one painting very slightly cracked, and two others with tiny chips. Four of the paintings have small damp stains to the center, though this has thankfully not notably or damaged the paint, with the gold still shining brightly. There are otherwise a few small spots and a bit of soiling to a few paintings, but this set is magnificent overall.

Back to Home page