Girin Joh (1 results)
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Seller: RARE ORIENTAL BOOK CO., ABAA, ILAB, Aptos, CA, U.S.A.RARE ORIENTAL BOOK CO., ABAA, ILAB
Contact seller5-star seller[Nagasaki 1853]. Hand-painted color scroll, 29.8 x 214 cm., long, bright & clean example, nicely mounted & re-backed, in custom Kiri wood box, a bit of old, minor restoration to lower edge, exertly executed. * * OBSCURE & RARE EXAMPLE * * . *** **** *** . . . EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-PAINTED PRIMARY RESOURCE . . . DOCUMENTING THE… HISTORIC FIRST RUSSIAN VISIT TO NAGASAKI . . . LED BY VICE ADMIRAL YEVFIMY PUTYATIN [PUTIATIN] . . . A HAND-PAINTED COLOR JAPANESE SCROLL . . . ARTIST SIGNED, DOUBLE SEALED & DATED KAEI 6 [1853] . . * In August 1853, a year and a month after American Commodore Perry landed at Uraga [near Yokohama & Tokyo], four Russian Warships entered Nagasaki harbor, under the command of Vice Admiral Euphimius [Yevfimy] Putiatin, representing the Russian envoy to Japan. [There are many variations for the spelling of the admiral including: "Admiral Evfimii Vasilievich Putiatin." . The Admiral came to Japan with much the same purpose as Perry, to establish diplomatic relations and open the country to foreign commerce. His mission culminated a half-century of similar [but failed] attempts, the first in 1803 with a visit by Russian Nicholai Rezanov. . Like the results Perry received, the arrival of Putiatin caused a similar flurry of confusion in Nagasaki. Nagasaki being a very long distance from Edo, the seat of Japanese government, meant that Putiatin's answer was severely delayed. . Ultimately Putiatin's mission to Nagasaki was a failure and was upstaged by Perry and his visit to Yokohama and direct communications with the ruling powers. Nagasaki was simply too far from the seat of Japanese government to accomplish anything. . See McOmie & French below, where they carefully outline the whole Russian affair. . *** A HAND-PAINTED COLOR SCROLL: . This excellent painting is brush signed by the artist GIRIN Joh and sealed twice sealed with his red cinnabar Hanko [chop/seal] at the end. At the beginning is his brushed date: Kaei 6th year [1853], July 18th. . This scroll was painted in the "DORO-E" style, a kind of gouache or water color, using natural color elements & pigments. . *** KIRI BOX: The scroll is contained in a period old custom-made Japanese Kiri [cryptomeria] box, with bamboo 'nails," and a very tight-fitting lid. Designed to keep air and insects from entry. The scroll is wrapped in sheets of old Washi paper. Box size is: 35.3 x 8 x 6.5 cm. The box is in excellent condition, no markings. . *** DOCUMENTING THE FIRST NAGASAKI ARRIVAL OF RUSSIANS IN 1853: . An early example commemorating the arrival of four man-of-war sailing Russian ships, commanded by Admiral Putiatin. Beautifully illustrated showing the Russian imperial flag, sailors & marines parading in Nagasaki. . Putiatin and his fleet arrived in Nagasaki for trade negotiations and boundary discussions on the Kuriles and Sakhalin. . As a result, the Japanese-Russian Friendship Treaty and the Russian-Japanese Commerce & Navigation Treaties were concluded. Both countries then entered in to diplomatic relations. . The scroll shows four stunning Russian man-of-war frigate sailing ships at anchor in Nagasaki bay. Nicely illustrating a group of Russian sailors & marines. Putiatin is shown with a red sword and fancy hat with an ostrich feather. . A lovely procession of Putiatin and his military force parade on the beach, with his chair bearers marching in unison. . *** A PRIMARY RESOURCE: . A beautiful work, painted by the eye-witness artist, GIRIN, who sat on the bluff, and painted the actual scene. . Period hand-painted scrolls documenting the event of this high quality and caliber remain obscure and quite RARE ! . GIRIN had also painted other similar views, they are illustrated in Mody, below. They show other views of foreigners, Dutch, Spanish, Chinese &c, along with their shipping. . The work is signed: "KIYOH 71 OH" [painted by] "Seventy-one years old man in Nagasaki," meaning he was born ca. 1782. . *** RUSSIANS AT NAGASAKI HARBOR SCENE: . This lovely work.
