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ATTRIBUTED TO KITAGAWA UTAMARO II: A FINE AND RARE SCROLL PAINTING OF BEAUTIES UNDER A CHERRY TREE Attributed to Kitagawa Utamaro II (Koikawa Harumachi II) (fl. circa 1810's-1830's), signed Utamaro hitsu with kao Japan, dated 1831, Edo period (1615-1868) Ink, watercolors, and gouache on silk. Mounted on a silk brocade and paper frame, with bone jikusaki (roller ends). Depicting a hanami (flower viewing) scene in spring with two beauties, dressed in fine silks and ornate robes, tying prayers or poems on cherry blossom branches. Inscriptions: Signed to the right margin, ‘Utamaro hitsu with kao’ [Made by Utamaro, kao] 哥麿. Inscribed to the verso, ‘Oka bijin zu’ [Painting of beauties under the cherry tree] 桜花美人圖 and with another inscription, ‘Tenpo ninen, sangatsu, hanami … Mukojima nite, haru no hi, Ukiyoe-shi Utamaro (Utamaru) hitsu, Harumachi ni’ [Painted by (Koikawa) Harumachi II, also known as the ukiyoe painter Utamaro (II), on a spring day at Mukojima, on the occasion of cherry blossom viewing (hanami) in the third month, in the Tenpo 2nd year (1831)] 天保ノ二年、三月花見、向嶋ニテ春日、浮世絵師哥丸筆、春町弐 Image SIZE 95 x 45.5 cm, SIZE incl. mounting 182 x 58.4 cm Condition: Good condition with minor wear and slight fading. Few minor stains and foxing. The frame with creasing, tears, minor losses, and signs of wear and use. Provenance: From the private collection of Monsieur Auguste Gérard (1852-1922), French ambassador to China (1893-1897) and Japan (1907-1913), by repute, and thence by descent to the present owner. Koikawa Harumachi II (fl. circa 1810's-1830's) is the most renowned pupil of Utamaro I and has, like his master, only a small number of paintings known. He adopted the name Utamaro II after marrying Utamaro (I)’s widow in 1806. Museum comparison: For a related scroll painting of two beauties, by Kitagawa Utamaro, see the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 14.76.70b. For a related scroll painting of a courtesan reading a letter, see the collection of the British Museum, museum number 2014,3048.1. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related scroll painting of a courtesan, by Kitagawa Utamaro II, at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 11 November 2010, London, lot 357 ( sold for GBP 38,400).
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ATTRIBUTED TO KITAGAWA UTAMARO II: A FINE AND RARE SCROLL PAINTING OF BEAUTIES UNDER A CHERRY TREE Attributed to Kitagawa Utamaro II (Koikawa Harumachi II) (fl. circa 1810's-1830's), signed Utamaro hitsu with kao Japan, dated 1831, Edo period (1615-1868) Ink, watercolors, and gouache on silk. Mounted on a silk brocade and paper frame, with bone jikusaki (roller ends). Depicting a hanami (flower viewing) scene in spring with two beauties, dressed in fine silks and ornate robes, tying prayers or poems on cherry blossom branches. Inscriptions: Signed to the right margin, ‘Utamaro hitsu with kao’ [Made by Utamaro, kao] 哥麿. Inscribed to the verso, ‘Oka bijin zu’ [Painting of beauties under the cherry tree] 桜花美人圖 and with another inscription, ‘Tenpo ninen, sangatsu, hanami … Mukojima nite, haru no hi, Ukiyoe-shi Utamaro (Utamaru) hitsu, Harumachi ni’ [Painted by (Koikawa) Harumachi II, also known as the ukiyoe painter Utamaro (II), on a spring day at Mukojima, on the occasion of cherry blossom viewing (hanami) in the third month, in the Tenpo 2nd year (1831)] 天保ノ二年、三月花見、向嶋ニテ春日、浮世絵師哥丸筆、春町弐 Image SIZE 95 x 45.5 cm, SIZE incl. mounting 182 x 58.4 cm Condition: Good condition with minor wear and slight fading. Few minor stains and foxing. The frame with creasing, tears, minor losses, and signs of wear and use. Provenance: From the private collection of Monsieur Auguste Gérard (1852-1922), French ambassador to China (1893-1897) and Japan (1907-1913), by repute, and thence by descent to the present owner. Koikawa Harumachi II (fl. circa 1810's-1830's) is the most renowned pupil of Utamaro I and has, like his master, only a small number of paintings known. He adopted the name Utamaro II after marrying Utamaro (I)’s widow in 1806. Museum comparison: For a related scroll painting of two beauties, by Kitagawa Utamaro, see the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 14.76.70b. For a related scroll painting of a courtesan reading a letter, see the collection of the British Museum, museum number 2014,3048.1. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related scroll painting of a courtesan, by Kitagawa Utamaro II, at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 11 November 2010, London, lot 357 ( sold for GBP 38,400).
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