ORIGINAL HAND-PAINTED SCROLL OF RUSSIAN ADMIRAL PUTIATIN'S ENVOY & EXPEDITION TO

[Nagasaki 1853]. Hand-painted color scroll, 29.8 x 214 cm., long, bright & clean example, nicely mounted & re-backed, in custom Kiri wood box, a bit of old, minor restoration to lower edge, exertly executed. * * OBSCURE & RARE EXAMPLE * * . *** **** *** . . . EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-PAINTED PRIMARY RESOURCE . . . DOCUMENTING THE HISTORIC FIRST RUSSIAN VISIT TO NAGASAKI . . . LED BY VICE ADMIRAL YEVFIMY PUTYATIN [PUTIATIN] . . . A HAND-PAINTED COLOR JAPANESE SCROLL . . . ARTIST SIGNED, DOUBLE SEALED & DATED KAEI 6 [1853] . . * In August 1853, a year and a month after American Commodore Perry landed at Uraga [near Yokohama & Tokyo], four Russian Warships entered Nagasaki harbor, under the command of Vice Admiral Euphimius [Yevfimy] Putiatin, representing the Russian envoy to Japan. [There are many variations for the spelling of the admiral including: "Admiral Evfimii Vasilievich Putiatin." . The Admiral came to Japan with much the same purpose as Perry, to establish diplomatic relations and open the country to foreign commerce. His mission culminated a half-century of similar [but failed] attempts, the first in 1803 with a visit by Russian Nicholai Rezanov. . Like the results Perry received, the arrival of Putiatin caused a similar flurry of confusion in Nagasaki. Nagasaki being a very long distance from Edo, the seat of Japanese government, meant that Putiatin's answer was severely delayed. . Ultimately Putiatin's mission to Nagasaki was a failure and was upstaged by Perry and his visit to Yokohama and direct communications with the ruling powers. Nagasaki was simply too far from the seat of Japanese government to accomplish anything. . See McOmie & French below, where they carefully outline the whole Russian affair. . *** A HAND-PAINTED COLOR SCROLL: . This excellent painting is brush signed by the artist GIRIN Joh and sealed twice sealed with his red cinnabar Hanko [chop/seal] at the end. At the beginning is his brushed date: Kaei 6th year [1853], July 18th. . This scroll was painted in the "DORO-E" style, a kind of gouache or water color, using natural color elements & pigments. . *** KIRI BOX: The scroll is contained in a period old custom-made Japanese Kiri [cryptomeria] box, with bamboo 'nails," and a very tight-fitting lid. Designed to keep air and insects from entry. The scroll is wrapped in sheets of old Washi paper. Box size is: 35.3 x 8 x 6.5 cm. The box is in excellent condition, no markings. . *** DOCUMENTING THE FIRST NAGASAKI ARRIVAL OF RUSSIANS IN 1853: . An early example commemorating the arrival of four man-of-war sailing Russian ships, commanded by Admiral Putiatin. Beautifully illustrated showing the Russian imperial flag, sailors & marines parading in Nagasaki. . Putiatin and his fleet arrived in Nagasaki for trade negotiations and boundary discussions on the Kuriles and Sakhalin. . As a result, the Japanese-Russian Friendship Treaty and the Russian-Japanese Commerce & Navigation Treaties were concluded. Both countries then entered in to diplomatic relations. . The scroll shows four stunning Russian man-of-war frigate sailing ships at anchor in Nagasaki bay. Nicely illustrating a group of Russian sailors & marines. Putiatin is shown with a red sword and fancy hat with an ostrich feather. . A lovely procession of Putiatin and his military force parade on the beach, with his chair bearers marching in unison. . *** A PRIMARY RESOURCE: . A beautiful work, painted by the eye-witness artist, GIRIN, who sat on the bluff, and painted the actual scene. . Period hand-painted scrolls documenting the event of this high quality and caliber remain obscure and quite RARE ! . GIRIN had also painted other similar views, they are illustrated in Mody, below. They show other views of foreigners, Dutch, Spanish, Chinese &c, along with their shipping. . The work is signed: "KIYOH 71 OH" [painted by] "Seventy-one years old man in Nagasaki," meaning he was born ca. 1782. . *** RUSSIANS AT NAGASAKI HARBOR SCENE: . This lovely work shows four great frigates in full sail, two of which are very grand and large, the other two a bit smaller but still grand and impressive. Each vessel flies a good number of flags and pennants. . The four ships are anchored near the shore in the Nagasaki harbor. There are many small Shogun guard boats anchored just adjacent to the Russian vessels to insure no unauthorized personnel go to the shore, as this was forbidden by the Shogun. . *** THE PAINTINGS & DRAWINGS: . This scroll is divided into three separate "views." From the right to the left [Japanese style], it begins with: . a. A grand view of the four Russian vessels at anchor. Beautifully painted against a pale blue sky, pink horizon and blue Nagasaki bay waters. The ships are illustrated in all of their glory, with tiny crew members dotted here and there. Flags and pennants of all colors are flying from the masts which are in full sail. There is some Japanese text in the sky outlining the names of things on the ships, size and other notes. . b. Color painted against a white background is the ship's crew and honor guard. Central are the four ship captains, including Vice Admiral Putiatin who wears a fancy gilt cap, an outstanding blue tunic with gold decorations, and carries a red sword. Other captains also wear a similar cap, all with a decorative ostrich feather, they wear different colored tunics with gold decorations. The flag-bearer proudly holds the Imperial Russian flag ahead of the ship's officers. . The other officers all carry swords and wear similar tall gold decorated caps. Some carry presents for the Japanese. . The officers are followed by a group of crew members, the last of which is carrying Putiatin's green chair, he has a very sour face ! . Preceding this group of ship's company is group of 19 musket-bearing marines, led by an officer. . c. Preceding this group is a group of twenty sailor-musicians playing brass with drums, leading the spectacle. . The artist signature follows the musicians. It is neatly brushed with two red-cinnabar Hanko [seals/chops]. . *** THE ARTIST GIRIN JOH [ca.1782-]: The drawings are expertly painted by Girin, quite excellent, showing much detail in natural, bright and fresh pigmented colors. . *** THE SCROLL, BINDING & DETAILS: . The painting is beautifully colored in pastel gouache, colors are fresh. Truly a superb ad stunning example. seldom found. . The scroll has a hand-loomed multi-color silk brocade cloth binding that starts at the beginning & wraps around the scroll. It is 30 xc 24.3 cm . There is a hand woven silk ribbon [85 cm. long] which wraps around the closed scroll exterior keeping the it firmly & tightly closed. . There are two wooden ends, most likely made from cherry wood which have been turned on a lathe with decorative design. There is a small chip on one side. . *** Color photos are posted to our website. . *** CONDITION: The Painting: The scroll painting was neatly re-backed with white Washi [handmade mulberry fiber] paper perhaps in the 1950's. This also reinforced the original thin paper, the work is stable, clean, solid & a very bright example. By and large this is far and above the average example of an item over 169 years old . . *** REFERENCE: --- GIRIN Jo references: Sotheby's sale: 9 May 2012: L12401, Lot 206: Formerly owned by C.R. Boxer: cited in his book: C.R. Boxer: Jan Compagnie in Japan, p. 116. . A painting of Nagasaki Harbor by Girin Jo at auction: sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2012/travel-atlases-maps -natural-history-l12401/lot.206.html. They had an estimate of 20,000-30,000 pounds sterling. . Kobe City Museum, 1987. See their Nagasaki & Deshima examples by Girin Jo. . Phillips, sale 31044, lot 380 . Mody below illustrated as plate 164. . --- ***. ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: . Mody, N.H.N.: A COLLECTION OF NAGASAKI COLOR PRINTS AND PAINTINGS: Showing The Influence of Chinese And European Art On That Of Japan: p.164, plates:69.71,90 & 91. . Mody also illustrates & cites other examples by GIRIN Joh, see plates 163, & a list of 3 other examples, and next plate no. 164 showing those examples of Dutch & Chinese ships [fig.1], Picture of a Chinese family [fig.2] & fig 3 a picture of Spanish and Dutch couples. GIRIN is also found in the index on page xxxiii. * French, Calvin.: THROUGH CLOSED DOORS, pp.54-57 documenting the Russian visit to Nagasaki in 1853. * [GUMP, Richard].: NAGASAKI & YOKOHAMA PRINTS: From the Richard Gump Collection, p.8, #2, illustrates a 'condensed' version by the famous Nagasaki painter Kawahara Keiga, which is a similar portrayal of the Russians on parade in Nagasaki Bay. A similar view of the same scene as our scroll. * DAWSON'S BOOK SHOP: CATALOGUE 354, [ca. 1966-67 ?], contains several excellent mid-19th century items about "Russians in Nagasaki & Japan." See item numbers: 1 [especially p.6-8], other examples of "Doro-e" see #19,20 & 7], 4-65 . --. Catalogue 354 part 2:numbering continues from part 1: more "Russians in Japan" items: #168 on pl45, 170 p,47 &c. * LENSEN, George A.: RUSSIA'S JAPAN EXPEDITION OF 1852-1855, covers both of Putiatin's Nagasaki visit. * WikiPedia article: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yevfimiy_Putyatin * William W. McOmie: The Russians in Nagasaki, 1853-54: Another Look at Some Russian, English, and Japanese Sources: see article on line at: eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2115/8076/1/KJ000 00034041.pdf . * .