Asai Seishu, “Monkey in a Pine Tree”, early 1800s

Asai Seishu [浅井星洲] (1796–1862)

“Monkey in a Pine Tree”, early 1800s, ink painting on silk mounted in a hanging scroll, signed with the artist’s name in ink “星 洲” (SEI-SHU) along with the artist’s seal at lower right.  

See a similar painting by Asai Seishu, but with a family of monkeys, offered by Invaluable auctions: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/asai-seishu-1796-1862-monkey-family-on-a-high-mou-530-c-91d44cd855. See also another painting by Asai Seishu at Mori Miyako Art. This site offers a close-up of the artist’s ink signature and seal: https://morimiya.net/online/kakejiku-byoubu/J294.html. 

Size: (scroll) 178 x 34cm; (image) 93.7 x 32cm.

Conditions: fair/good condition with no major issues with the painted area, but the scroll shows its age with minor marks, a few wormholes and signs of having been hung as a scroll and handled for several centuries.

I am selling this very beautiful and rare painting by an acclaimed Japanese painter who trained with Matsumura Keibun (松村 景文) (1779–1843) in Shijo style (see biographical details offered by the British Museum [https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG5440]), for AU$700 in total (currently US$463.36/ EUR431.39/GBP358.69 at the time of posting this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling (the scroll will be packed in a traditional wooden box but it is not the original box) to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$700) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in acquiring this marvellous painting of a monkey in a moment of animated contemplation, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

Note that the true colour and tonality of the painting is closer to what is shown in the studio photograph and the spirit of the brushwork is somewhat lost in the scanned details.