Lot 4: Suzuki Kason (1860-1919) Maruyama Shijo School, Meiji Period

Maruyama Shijo School, Meiji Period
A pair of six-fold screens, both painted in ink, gold and colour on paper, one screen decorated with the lavish Yomeimon of Toshogu (the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu) in Nikko nestled among a cedar forest, the other screen depicting Shinbashi, the bridge leading to the Shinto shrine within the grounds of the Toshogu complex, both screens signed Kason with seal. 172cm x 376cm (67¾in x 148in). (2).

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Suzuki Kason was born as the son of a prosperous merchant family (a favourite merchant of the Maeda clan of Kaga domain) who specialised in kimono fabrics in Edo. His style is based on the Kano school, but also influenced by Kikuchi Yosai (1788-1878) who studied paintings of the Tosa school, Maruyama Shijo school, ukiyo-e, and western paintings. He particularly excelled at kacho-ga (flower and birds paintings) poignantly capturing the feeling of the changing four seasons.