Page 99 - Bonhams May 2017 London Fine Japanese Art

169*

WATANABE SHOTEI (1851-1918),
KOBAYASHI EITAKU (1843-1890) AND
KAWANABE KYOSAI (1831-1889)
Meiji era (1868-1912), circa 1880-1890
Kakejiku (vertical hanging scroll), ink and
colours on silk in silk mounts, depicting
(clockwise from top) Hotoke Gozen with her
distinctive wide-brimmed hat, Shizuka Gozen
in full court dress with an eboshi cap and
fan, and Oiso Tora anachronistically holding a
long tobacco-pipe of Edo-period type, signed
respectively Shotei with seal Shotei, Kyosai
ga with seal Kyosai, and Sensai Eitaku with
seal Sensai; with wood storage box inscribed
outside San bijin zu Hotoke Gozen Oiso
Tora Shizuka Gozen Shotei hitsu Eitaku hitsu
Kyosai hitsu gassaku ichijiku (Scroll painting
of three beauties, Hotoke Gozen, Oiso Tora,
and Shizuka Gozen, a joint work brushed
by Shotei, Eitaku, and Kyosai), a certificate
of authenticity dated 1932 and a cardboard
outer box.
Overall 223cm x 79.5cm (87¾in x 31¼in);
image 119cm x 54cm (46¾in x 21¼in). (4).

£10,000 - 15,000
JPY1,400,000 - 2,100,000
US$12,000 - 19,000

This fanciful historical painting by three of
the most renowned artists of the mid-Meiji
era features three prominent women of the
late Heian (794-1185) and early Kamakura
(1185-1333) period, all of whom became
Buddhist nuns after living turbulent lives
linked to the most famous heroes of the day.
Hotoke Gozen (‘Lady Buddha’), better known
as Tokiwa Gozen (1138-1180), was the wife
of Minamoto no Yoshitomo and mother of
the great hero Minamoto no Yoshitsune
(1159-1189) but was later captured by the
Minamotos’ arch-enemy Taira no Kiyomori,
whom she served as a concubine before
taking holy orders. Oiso Tora, better known
as Tora Gozen (‘Lady Tiger’, born 1175), was
a courtesan based in Oiso, Sagami Province.
Famous as the lover of Soga Juro, one of the
heroes of Soga monogatari a much-loved tale
of samurai loyalty and retribution, she became
a nun in later life. Shizuka Gozen (1165–1211),
was a shirabyoshi (court dancer) who became
the lover of Yoshitsune. After Yoshitsune’s
downfall at the hands of his half-brother
Yoritomo, she too became a nun.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot FINE JAPANESE ART | 97
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.