265 - † MARUYAMA OKYO: A SUPERB PAIR OF 'COCKS, HENS, AND CHICKS' HANGING SCROLLS WITH TOKUGAWA-CRESTED MOUNTINGS

† MARUYAMA OKYO: A SUPERB PAIR OF 'COCKS, HENS, AND CHICKS' HANGING SCROLLS WITH TOKUGAWA-CRESTED MOUNTINGS By Maruyama Okyo (1733-1795), signed Okyo with seal Okyo Japan, dated 1773, Edo period (1615-1868) Ink, watercolors, and gouache on silk. Mounted as a pair of hanging scrolls within exceptionally sumptuous silk brocade mountings, the central borders intricately woven with golden floral arabesques, while the upper and lower sections are decorated with auspicious roundels amid scrolling foliage. The striking red lacquer jikusaki (roller ends) are emblazoned with the gilt mitsuba-aoi (triple hollyhock) crest of the Tokugawa family. The paintings are exquisitely rendered with lively groups of cocks, hens, and chicks gathered beneath delicately flowering branches. The magnificent roosters stand proudly with brilliant red combs, luxuriant blue-green tail feathers, and finely articulated plumage, while the hens busily peck at the ground or tend to their young. Each bird is depicted with extraordinary naturalism, its distinctive posture, delicate markings, and individual feathers meticulously observed and rendered with subtle gradations of color. The flowering branches, gently sweeping across the compositions, provide an elegant counterpoint to the animated birds, while the masterful balance of densely worked detail and generous empty space exemplifies Okyo's revolutionary approach to naturalistic painting. Inscriptions: The first signed and dated 安永癸巳仲夏寫、應舉 An'ei mizunoto-mi chuka utsusu, Okyo [Painted in midsummer of An'ei 2 (1773), Okyo]. The second signed 應舉 Okyo with seal 應舉 Okyo. Image SIZE 117 x 50 cm, SIZE incl. mounting 214 x 66 cm (each) Provenance: Collection of the Tokugawa family, until circa 1810-1820, by repute. Collection of the Wake family, acquired from the above, by repute. The private collection of Opel and Bert Jones, reportedly received as gifts in recognition of their assistance and involvement in the reconstruction of Japan following World War II, and thence by descent to their nephew Jack Tucker in the mid-1980s. A copy of a provenance note dated 23 August 1955 accompanies the lot. Condition: Excellent condition with only minor wear, vibrant colors, and minuscule soiling. With a wood tomobako (storage box). Particularly remarkable are the exceptionally luxurious silk brocade mountings and the red lacquer roller ends bearing the gilt mitsuba-aoi crest of the Tokugawa shogunal family. The elaborate gold-woven floral patterns and auspicious medallions reflect a level of refinement befitting a prestigious collection. These distinctive fittings are especially noteworthy in light of the reported provenance from the Tokugawa family, although they do not independently establish that history. The paintings themselves are equally exceptional, demonstrating Okyo's celebrated mastery of naturalistic observation through the animated expressions, meticulously rendered plumage, and wonderfully engaging interaction of the birds and their young. Maruyama Okyo (1733-1795), founder of the influential Maruyama school, revolutionized Japanese painting through his pioneering emphasis on shasei, or direct observation from life. Born into a farming family in Tanba Province, he studied under Ishida Yutei (1721-1786) in Kyoto and drew inspiration from traditional Kano and Chinese painting as well as Western techniques of perspective and realism. His innovative synthesis of meticulous naturalism and decorative elegance established a new direction in Japanese painting, profoundly influencing subsequent generations of artists. Museum comparison: Compare a closely related hanging scroll depicting a cock, hen, and chick by the same artist, dated to the 18th century, 109.5 x 47.1 cm, in the Freer Gallery of Art, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, accession number F1904.385. Compare a closely related pair of hanging scrolls depicting cocks and hens by the same artist, dated to the 18th century, 106.3 x 38.5 cm, in the Miho Museum. Auction comparison: Compare a related triptych of hanging scrolls depicting a hen, rooster, and pheasants by the same artist, signed Mo Shokado hitsu-i Okyo, each sealed Okyo no in and Chusen, dated to the 18th century, each measuring 36 x 39.5 cm, at Christie's, Japanese and Korean Art, 17 March 2009, New York, lot 26 (sold for USD 47,500 or approx. EUR 66,800 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). 13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.