© British Museum
Tigers Crossing a River
Artist: Maruyama Okyo (1733 - 1795), studio of Maruyama Okyo (1733 - 1795)
Location: British Museum
Date: circa 1781-1782
Materials: ink, colour & gold leaf on paper
Dimensions: 153.5 x 352.8cm
Grant:
Amount Paid: £92,695 (Total: £185,390)
Vendor: Ryo Iida Asian Art
Review number: 5738 (2006)
Provenance:
Work bears label with seal of industrialist-collector Hara Sankei (1868-1939); acquired circa 1976 by the father of Ryo Iida, also a dealer; by descent to Ryo Iida, Ryo Iida Asian Art, Ardsley, USA.
Description:
This six-panel Japanese folding screen depicts tigers crossing a river, inspired by an ancient Chinese legend: if a mother tiger gives birth to three cubs, it was believed that one is always a leopard (hyo). She has to be careful when crossing a river not to leave the ferocious hyo alone with the other cubs. Okyo was the most influential Japanese painter of his generation, and it is likely that he was assisted by his pupils, including his leading pupil Gen Ki.
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