Livre de fleurs et d'oiseaux

Collection comprising 10 double-page paintings in traditional Japanese manner: glue-based painting on silk. These 10 paintings represent flowers, birds and insects. They are all captioned with poetic titles and each bears one or more red seals which allow identification of the painter's name; some are part of the painter's name, others the complete name.
Japanese accordion binding with lacquered elm boards. Title label with manuscript title and a seal. A slight dampstain to lower margin on the first endpaper, otherwise superb general condition. The paper on the reverse of the pastedowns slightly lifted and bearing splits.
Master of Kachoga (flower and bird paintings), Bunrei (1837-1917) was born in Kyoto and from a young age was taught by his father who was a member of the Shijo school of which he himself became a member. His style is delicate and realistic and he pays great attention to the mastery of colors. The original work presented here is a manifesto of his art and his very assured technique, the painter seems to have deployed through these 10 miniature paintings the very essence of Japanese painting.