The Work of the Itaya Clan, Official Painters to the Shogun

Sumiyoshi Hiromori (1705–77) was the head of the Sumiyoshi school of painting and an official artist to the Shogun’s government. He was responsible mainly for works in a traditional Japanese style called yamato-e. After Hiromori fell ill, his pupil, Itaya Keishu Hiromasa, took over leadership of the school in 1773. Although Hiromasa retired in 1781, his position inherited by his eldest son, the government so prized Hiromasa’s work that they summoned him back into service the following year. This event led to the establishment of the Itaya clan of official painters to the Shogun.

In FY2009, the museum received documents and other items connected with the Itaya clan, including copybooks and painting drafts, from the clan’s descendants. With support from Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, from FY2011 the museum investigated these materials and artworks connected with the clan. In the same year, the museum held a Special Exhibition featuring these materials and Itaya clan artworks from the museum’s collection.
   
With the cooperation of the holders, this exhibition displays paintings that were brought to light through this research project. They include ones by the founder of the Itaya clan, Hiromasa (1729–97), the second head, Hironaga (1760–1814), the third, Hirotaka (1786–1831), the fifth, Hironobu (1820–59), and the seventh, Hironaga (1871–1949), in addition to those by the fifth head of the Sumiyoshi school, Hiroyuki (1754–1811). Drafts connected with the artistic activities of the Itaya clan are also on display.

* This exhibition is a result of the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research project, “Comprehensive Research on Official Painters to the Bakufu with a Focus on the Itaya Clan” (#23242013), FY2011–2015.