Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861)

Name: Benkei Playfully Dragging the Bell of Mii Temple up Mount Hiei
Brand: Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861)
Price: 1900.00 GBP
Availability: SoldOut

Price Realised GBP 2,375

Estimate

GBP 2,000 - GBP 3,000

Closed: 7 Aug 2014

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Benkei Playfully Dragging the Bell of Mii Temple up Mount Hiei

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861)

Price Realised GBP 2,375

Closed: 7 Aug 2014

Price Realised GBP 2,375

Closed: 7 Aug 2014

Details Lot Essay Related Articles More from

A PRIVATE ENGLISH COLLECTION OF PRINTS BY UTAGAWA KUNIYOSHI

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861)
Benkei ga yuriki tawamure ni Miidera no tsurigane o Eizan e hikioguru zu [Benkei's Heroic Strength: Playfully Dragging the Bell of Mii Temple up Mount Hiei]

Woodblock print, signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga, artist's seal yoshikiri, published by Ibaya Sensaburo, circa 1845
Vertical oban triptych (each sheet approx. 35.7 x 24.9cm.)

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Lot Essay

This powerful composition depicts the legend of Benkei displaying his sheer brute strength by dragging the bell from the Mii temple to Mount Hiei, Kyoto, watched by the young Yoshitsune in the background.

As a result of his defeat at Gojo Bridge in Kyoto (see lot 10), Saito Musashibo Benkei (ca.1155-89) became a loyal retainer of Minomoto no Yoshitsune (1159-1189), and is beloved and revered in Japan for his sense of honour and unwavering loyalty to Yoshitsune.

Another impression of this design is in the collection of the British Museum, see www.britishmuseum.org museum number 2008,3037.20508. See also T. Clark, , (Royal Academy of Arts, 2009), cat. 24, p. 71