Kishi Chikudo was born in Hikone (Shiga prefecture) in 1826. He first studied with Nakajima Antai, a Kano master, until he moved to Kyoto in 1842, where he became a pupil of Kano Eigaku and in 1843 of Kishi Renzan (1805-1859). Renzan made him his heir in 1854. Thus, Chikudo became the fourth generation head of the Kishi school. In 1855 Chikudo participated in the decoration of the Kyoto imperial palace. This imperial commission provided him and his school with a prestigious position in the art world. In his lifetime, Chikudo, Mori Kansai, and Kono Bairei were regarded as the three greatest painters of Kyoto. His desire to develop an innovative, more individual style made him an important figure in the development of early Nihonga in de first half of the Meiji era. The Kishi school is well-known for its tiger paintings, in which Chikudo was a master as well. He reportedly studied tigers in street stalls and traveling circuses. His Tigress was exhibited at the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893. It is said that he worked so intensely on this masterpiece that he believed, at least temporarily, that he himself was a tiger. His subjects include other animals, cherry blossom, moonlit scenes and bird & flower designs. He laid strong emphasis on shasei (sketching from life), which he passed on to his followers of the next generation. Chikudo employed the tsuketate technique, in which a soft, finely tapered wet brush is applied directly to silk with a flourish to create shading and three-dimensionality.He created a number of masterpieces in the last decade of his life, the intensity of which probably led to a mental breakdown. Kishi Chikudo prepared the way for many distinguished painters. His best known pupil is Nishimura Goun. With tomobako. Roller ends: bone. Measurements: Scroll: 201 x 54 cm Picture: 122,5 x 41 cm Very good condition, there are signs of wear due to age and normal use, stains, marks; please, see pictures for actual condition. Registered shipping with tracking number, well packed for safe and fast delivering!