KISHI GANKU: DRAGON AMIDST WAVES
KISHI GANKU: DRAGON AMIDST WAVES
By Kishi Ganku (Gan Ku; 1749–1838), signed Ganku with seal Ganku (Funzen)
Japan, c. 1758-1808
Published: Forrer, Matthi [ed.] (2020) Kakemono: Five centuries of Japanese painting. The Perino Collection, 2020, p. 118, no. 99.
Exhibited:
MAO Museo d'Arte Orientale, Turin, Kakemono: Five centuries of Japanese painting. The Perino Collection, 27 March-28 June 2020.
MUSEC Museo delle Culture, Lugano, Kakemono: Five centuries of Japanese painting. The Perino Collection, 17 July 2020-11 April 2021.
Ink on silk. Mounted as a hanging scroll on a silk brocade frame with bone jikusaki (roller ends). A dragon amid two of its typical elements, the waves, where dragons live, and the clouds, through which they can ascend to heaven and serve as messengers to the gods.
Inscriptions: To the bottom-right edge, signed Ganku with seal Ganku (Funzen).
Image SIZE 95 x 35.5 cm, SIZE incl. mounting 175 x 46.5 cm
Provenance: Ex-collection Dr. Claudio Perino, Turin, Italy, acquired mostly in Japan in the early 2000s.
Dr. Claudio Perino is a collector with a keen interest in Japanese, Chinese and Far Eastern cultures. His collection consists of over 2000 works of art, partly loaned to the Museum of Oriental Arts (MAO) in Turin, Italy and to the Museo delle Culture (MUSEC) in Lugano, Switzerland.
Condition: Very good condition with wear, minor soiling, and little foxing. The mounting with signs of wear and use.
Kishi Ganku (Gan Ku; 1749–1838) was a leading Japanese painter of Kyoto and founder of the Kishi school of painting. He is famous for his paintings of tigers. Ganku was born in Kanazawa as Kishi Saeki, studied painting styles including those of the Chinese painter Shen Nanpin and the Maruyama-Shijo school, and arrived in Kyoto around 1780. By the late 18th century, Ganku's paintings were appreciated by patrons who included the imperial family, leading to a position under Prince Arisugawa. His students included his son, Gantai, his son-in-law Ganryou, his adopted son Renzan, Yokoyama Kazan, Shirai Kayou, and Kawamura Bumpou. He was made honorary governor of Echizen toward the end of his life.
Auction comparison:
Compare a related painting of a dragon and tiger, by the same artist, dated to the 19th century, at Bonhams, Fine Japanese & Korean Art, 25 March 2026, New York, lot 953 (sold for USD 5,375 or approx.
EUR 4,700 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).
Buyer's Premium
30%
Sale price
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
KISHI GANKU: DRAGON AMIDST WAVES
By Kishi Ganku (Gan Ku; 1749–1838), signed Ganku with seal Ganku (Funzen)
Japan, c. 1758-1808
Published: Forrer, Matthi [ed.] (2020) Kakemono: Five centuries of Japanese painting. The Perino Collection, 2020, p. 118, no. 99.
Exhibited:
MAO Museo d'Arte Orientale, Turin, Kakemono: Five centuries of Japanese painting. The Perino Collection, 27 March-28 June 2020.
MUSEC Museo delle Culture, Lugano, Kakemono: Five centuries of Japanese painting. The Perino Collection, 17 July 2020-11 April 2021.
Ink on silk. Mounted as a hanging scroll on a silk brocade frame with bone jikusaki (roller ends). A dragon amid two of its typical elements, the waves, where dragons live, and the clouds, through which they can ascend to heaven and serve as messengers to the gods.
Inscriptions: To the bottom-right edge, signed Ganku with seal Ganku (Funzen).
Image SIZE 95 x 35.5 cm, SIZE incl. mounting 175 x 46.5 cm
Provenance: Ex-collection Dr. Claudio Perino, Turin, Italy, acquired mostly in Japan in the early 2000s.
Dr. Claudio Perino is a collector with a keen interest in Japanese, Chinese and Far Eastern cultures. His collection consists of over 2000 works of art, partly loaned to the Museum of Oriental Arts (MAO) in Turin, Italy and to the Museo delle Culture (MUSEC) in Lugano, Switzerland.
Condition: Very good condition with wear, minor soiling, and little foxing. The mounting with signs of wear and use.
Kishi Ganku (Gan Ku; 1749–1838) was a leading Japanese painter of Kyoto and founder of the Kishi school of painting. He is famous for his paintings of tigers. Ganku was born in Kanazawa as Kishi Saeki, studied painting styles including those of the Chinese painter Shen Nanpin and the Maruyama-Shijo school, and arrived in Kyoto around 1780. By the late 18th century, Ganku's paintings were appreciated by patrons who included the imperial family, leading to a position under Prince Arisugawa. His students included his son, Gantai, his son-in-law Ganryou, his adopted son Renzan, Yokoyama Kazan, Shirai Kayou, and Kawamura Bumpou. He was made honorary governor of Echizen toward the end of his life.
Auction comparison:
Compare a related painting of a dragon and tiger, by the same artist, dated to the 19th century, at Bonhams, Fine Japanese & Korean Art, 25 March 2026, New York, lot 953 (sold for USD 5,375 or approx.
EUR 4,700 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).
Buyer's Premium
30%
Sale price
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
