244 - A FINE PAIR OF LARGE SIX-PANEL ‘ITSUKUSHIMA SHRINE AND MIYAJIMA’ MEISHO ZU BYOBU (FOLDING SCREENS)

A FINE PAIR OF LARGE SIX-PANEL ‘ITSUKUSHIMA SHRINE AND MIYAJIMA’ MEISHO ZU BYOBU (FOLDING SCREENS) Japan, 17 th-18 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Ink, watercolors, gouache, gold leaf, and gold flakes on paper. Each mounted on silk brocade within red-lacquered wood frames with finely chased brass fittings. Finely painted in panoramic bird's-eye perspective with two expansive views of the sacred island of Itsukushima (Miyajima), its monumental shrine, bustling waterfront, and wooded religious precincts, all set against the lustrous gold-leaf ground and deep blue-black waters of the Seto Inland Sea, enlivened by numerous sailing vessels and smaller boats. One screen depicts the celebrated Itsukushima Shrine, its extensive complex of interconnected halls and covered galleries raised on wooden pilings above the sea, with the monumental offshore torii, a gracefully arched bridge, and a pagoda rising amid the rocky wooded slopes. Numerous visitors traverse the raised walkways and shrine precincts, while boats approach the sacred shore and deer wander along the water's edge. The companion screen appears to depict the neighboring waterfront settlement and temple precincts of Miyajima. A densely built town extends between steep, pine-covered rocky hills, its crowded rooftops and open-fronted shops overlooking a sheltered landing filled with moored boats. A prominent pagoda rises among the trees, with further shrines, pavilions, and torii gates dispersed throughout the landscape. Small figures animate the winding paths and waterfront, while deer roam freely among the visitors. The rich gold-leaf ground and delicate flecks of gold scattered across the dark waters lend both compositions a striking luminosity. SIZE 173 x 370.8 cm (each) Condition: Good condition with expected wear. Some soiling, stains, light scratches, flaking and losses to the pigments and gold leaf and small tears, some with associated repairs and touchups, rubbing along the joints. The backs with signs of wear and use, tears and losses to the paper, repairs and reinforcements. The present pair belongs to the tradition of meisho zu, or paintings of celebrated places, which flourished in large-scale screen painting during the Edo period. Itsukushima, renowned for its shrine seemingly floating upon the sea, was counted alongside Matsushima and Amanohashidate among Japan's Three Great Views. Such screens celebrated both the spiritual significance of these destinations and the lively culture of pilgrimage and sightseeing. Particularly noteworthy is the recurrence of deer on both screens, traditionally regarded as sacred messengers at Itsukushima. Together with the distinctive coastal scenery and religious architecture, their presence suggests that the two screens present complementary views of Miyajima itself, encompassing both the sacred shrine complex and the bustling settlement beyond. Museum comparison: Compare a closely related pair of six-panel screens, Itsukushima Yuraku zu Byobu (Pleasures at Itsukushima Shrine), dated to the 17th century, 154.8 x 359.6 cm each, in the Tokyo National Museum, collection no. A-12210. Like the present pair, these screens depict a continuous panorama of Itsukushima, including the shrine complex and its surrounding landscape. Auction comparison: Compare a related pair of large six-panel screens, Kurama and Itsukushima, dated to the 17th century, ca. 170 x 381 cm each, at Sotheby's, Masterpieces of Asian Art from the Okada Museum of Art II, 4 September 2026, Hong Kong, lot 2153 sold for HKD 704,000 or approx. EUR 80,000 converted at the time of writing).