Antique Japanese Hanging Scroll Attributed to Iwasa Matabei

Description

An antique ink and color on paper hanging scroll (kakejiku) with brocade border. It appears to be a fragment of … more An antique ink and color on paper hanging scroll (kakejiku) with brocade border. It appears to be a fragment of a larger hand scroll depicting a procession of a lord with his entourage. In his full regalia, the lord is carried in his sedan chair and surrounded by couriers, porters with large trunks, guards and foot soldiers. They are marching through a pass in the mountain and appear that they are going for an event bearing invitation and presents. The old collecting label identifies the provenance of the piece as being purchased from Kanegen-Do Antique Shop in Sendai, Japan. It entered the collection of Weatherspoon Art Gallery, University of North Carolina Greensboro in 1988 with the artist listed as anonymous. However, the scroll storage box was inscribed in Chinese with a title "Warrior Lord" and "Painted by Iwasa Matabei". It was difficult to authenticate the artist therefore is listed as an attribution.
Iwasa Matabei (1578-1650) was a Japanese painter of the early Edo period (1603–1868). Trained in both Kano and Tosa school, the individualistic and versatile painter became an heir to the tradition of the Tosa school, who focused on the Japanese subjects matters and scenes from Classic Japanese and Chinese literature and historical events.
The painting itself measures 17" W x 15" H; The scroll measures 22" W x 48" H. less