Paintings of the Itaya Family and their Drafts

In 1782 of the mid-Edo period, the Itaya family was newly appointed by the shogunate to produce paintings for the shogunate as well as to make attributions. They specialized in the yamato-e (traditional Japanese-style painting) genre, of which well known lineages include the Tosa family originating in the early 15th century, and the Sumiyoshi family which began in the early Edo period in the 17th century, founded by Tosa Hiromichi (later known as Sumiyoshi Jokei). The Itaya family branched from the Sumiyoshi and has continued until the present day.

Tokyo National Museum, in FY 2009, received a donation from Mr. Itaya Hirooki, the last family head, of over 10,000 items including paintings and historical materials which were handed down in the Itaya family. The vast collection of paintings and other materials, never before exhibited, is now undergoing categorization and registration. In time, we will be able to provide an overview of the whole collection.

As an interim report on the categorization process, which is also the beginning of a comprehensive study of the Itaya family, this thematic exhibition will display a total of 28 works from the museum collection such as paintings by the Itaya and Sumiyoshi painters, along with related items from the Itaya family materials.