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Tigers Crossing a River (© British Museum)
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© 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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