“After” Kano Tanyu Morinobu

late Edo / Meiji period, 18th/19th century

1800-1912

Painting

An ink painting on silk bordered in silk mounts and bone jikusaki (scroll ends). The painting depicts a dragon flying out of a spiralling storm above sea waves.  

In China and Japan, dragons are associated with clouds and water and believed to be able to control the rain. Dragons have been frequently portrayed by ink painters in both China and Japan, famously by the 13th-century Chinese painter Chen Rong.

This painting is signed by the Edo period master artist Kano Tanyu Morinobu “4 March 1602 – 4 November 1674”. It is highly unlikely that this painting is by Kano Tanyu and is far more likely to be a late Edo or Meiji period artist who has put his name on to make it more desirable.

Signed Kano Tanyu Morinobu and red seal

Scroll size 508mm x 1739mm

Painting size 311mm x 909mm