Mitsunaga Tokiwa

Dates of birth and death unknown. A painter from the late Heian period (late 12th century). A master of Yamato-e paintings of the time, he was active as a court painter around Emperor Goshirakawa and his wife Kenshunmon-in. In 1173 (Joan 3), he was involved in the production of shoji paintings for Saishoko-in Temple, which was built at the request of the wife, and he painted scenes of the retired emperor and his wife's visits to Hirano, Hiyoshi, and Koya, but there is a record that Fujiwara Takanobu completed the facial expressions of the attendees (Kikki and Gyokuyo). In addition, the "Annual Events Picture Scroll," of which only a copy exists today, was produced by Mitsunaga at the command of the retired emperor, but the original was a large work spanning 60 volumes. The extant "Ban Dainagon Ekotoba" (National Treasure, Idemitsu Museum of Art, Tokyo) is also believed to be the work of Mitsunaga, but its style is highly refined and inherits the traditions of advanced Yamato-e painting. However, the names of the characters other than Tokiwa, such as Tosa and Fujiwara, were added later and there is no certainty.

[Etsuko Kato]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

生没年未詳。平安末期（12世紀後半）の画家。当代の大和絵(やまとえ)の名手で、宮廷絵師として後白河院(ごしらかわいん)やその妃建春門院の周辺で活躍した。1173年（承安3）には妃の発願により建立された最勝光院の障子絵制作に携わり、上皇や妃の平野行啓・日吉(ひえ)御幸・高野(こうや)行幸の情景を描いているが、参列者の面貌(めんぼう)は藤原隆信(たかのぶ)が仕上げたとの記録がある（『吉記(きっき)』『玉葉(ぎょくよう)』）。また現在模本のみ伝わる『年中行事絵巻』は、上皇の命により光長を中心に制作されたが、原本は60巻にも及ぶ大作であった。現存する『伴大納言絵詞(ばんだいなごんえことば)』（国宝、東京・出光(いでみつ)美術館）も光長の作と推定されているが、その画風は高度な大和絵の伝統を継承して格調高い。なお、常盤以外の土佐・藤原などの呼称は後世付加されたもので、確証はない。

［加藤悦子］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例