Takamura Koun - Takamura Koun

Sculptor. Born in Edo. Real name Kokichi, maiden name Nakajima. He studied wood carving under Buddhist sculptor Takamura Toun (1826-1879), and in 1874 (Meiji 7) was adopted by Shinonome's older sister, inheriting the Takamura family name. In 1877, he exhibited "White Robed Kannon" (Byakue Kannon) as a substitute for Shinonome at the Domestic Industrial Exposition, where he received the top prize. At the beginning of the Meiji period, when wood carving was in decline, he pioneered a new style of work that incorporated sketching, and made a great contribution to the development of modern wood carving. In 1889, when the Tokyo School of Fine Arts (now Tokyo University of the Arts) opened, he became the head of the sculpture department, and the following year he was appointed as an Imperial Household Artist and a professor at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, and in 1891 he adopted the name Koun. He completed the bronze statues "Portrait of Lord Kusunoki" and "Portrait of Saigo Takamori" from wooden prototypes at the request of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, and his "Old Monkey" won the second prize for exquisite workmanship at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. After the Literary Exhibition in 1907 (Meiji 40), he served as a judge, and in 1919 (Taisho 8), he became a member of the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts, literally making him a leading figure in official wood sculpture exhibitions. In 1926, he retired from his position as professor at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts and became a professor emeritus. His eldest son, Kotaro, is a sculptor and poet, and his third son, Toyochika, is renowned as a craftsman. His books include "Koun no Kaikodan."

[Tamon Miki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

彫刻家。江戸に生まれる。本名幸吉、旧姓中島。仏師高村東雲(とううん)（1826―1879）の門に入って木彫を学び、1874年（明治7）東雲の姉の養子となり、高村姓を継いだ。1877年内国勧業博覧会に東雲の代作として『白衣観音(びゃくえかんのん)』を出品、最高賞を受けた。明治初年の木彫衰退期に、写生を取り入れた新しい作風を開き、近代木彫の展開に大きな業績を残した。1889年東京美術学校（現東京芸術大学）の開設とともに彫刻科の指導者となり、翌年帝室技芸員、東京美術学校教授に任命され、1891年光雲と号した。東京美術学校に依頼された『楠公像(なんこうぞう)』『西郷隆盛像(たかもりぞう)』の銅像を木彫の原型から完成させ、1893年のシカゴ万国博覧会では『老猿(ろうえん)』が妙技二等賞を受賞した。1907年（明治40）の文展開設後は審査員を歴任し、1919年（大正8）には帝国美術院会員となり、文字どおり官展系木彫の重鎮であった。1926年東京美術学校教授を退いて名誉教授となった。長男の光太郎(こうたろう)は彫刻家・詩人、三男の豊周(とよちか)は工芸家として名高い。著書に『光雲懐古談』がある。

［三木多聞］

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