Ujihiro Okuma

Japanese: 大熊氏広 - おおくま・うじひろ

Year of death: March 20, 1934
Year of birth: 1856.7.14 (Ansei 3.6.13)
A sculptor active in the early days of Western-style sculpture. Born into a farming family in Adachi County, Musashi Province (Hatogaya City, Saitama Prefecture), he moved to Tokyo with the aim of becoming a Western-style painter. When the Kobu Bijutsu Gakko opened in 1876, he enrolled in the sculpture department and studied under Italian teacher Ragusa. Recognized for his excellent grades and character while still a student, he served as an assistant in the sculpture department, and graduated at the top of his class in 1882. He began working for the Ministry of Public Works in 1882. After receiving a request to create a bronze statue of Omura Masujiro in front of Yasukuni Shrine, he decided to travel to Europe, staying there from 1886 to 1887 and studying under Ferrugier and Monteverde. He was a pioneer of Western-style bronze statues that emphasized realism, and produced many portraits. Many of his materials are held at the Hatogaya City Local History Museum.

(Emiko Yamanashi)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：昭和9.3.20(1934)
生年：安政3.6.13(1856.7.14)
洋風彫刻の草創期に活躍した彫刻家。武蔵国足立郡(埼玉県鳩ケ谷市)の農家に生まれ,洋画家を志して上京。明治9(1876)年,工部美術学校が開設されると彫刻科に入学し,イタリア人教師ラグーザに師事。在学中から優秀な成績と人柄を認められて彫刻科助手を務め,15年同科を首席で卒業。17年より工部省に勤務。靖国神社前の「大村益次郎銅像」の依頼を受けて渡欧を決意し,21年より22年まで滞欧してフェルギエール,モンテベルデらに師事。写実を重視した西洋風のブロンズ像の開拓者として肖像を多く制作した。鳩ケ谷市立郷土資料館に多くの資料が所蔵される。

(山梨絵美子)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

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