Kuniyoshi: Kusunoki Masashige with Celestial Instruments (Sold)

Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861)
Title: Kusunoki Masashige (楠正成) with Compass and Celestial Globe
Series: Stories of One Hundred Heroes of High Renown (Meiko hyaku yuden) 名高百勇傳
Date: Circa 1843

Kusunoki Masashige (楠正成) is shown next to a celestial globe and holding a compass; another compass is seen on the ground. The celestial globe was used to determine the time in which the celestial bodies would rise and set, as well as the altitude and azimuth of the bodies at any given time. He wears the voluminous, formal robes of the court as well as a court hat and seems to be performing calculations using his fingers. Kusunoki was more of a warrior than a scholar; in the 14th century he fought for Emperor Go-Daigo, and is remembered as the ideal of samurai loyalty for following the orders of the emperor although this meant his own defeat.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Unbacked and untrimmed; condition is exceptional.
Dimensions: ôban (37.8 x 26.3 cm)
Publisher: Izumiya Ichibei
Signature: Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga
Literature: Robinson #S31.10.

SKU: KUS519